Hewentin，leavingwordthatIshouldwaitforhim。Thereheremaineduntilclosingtime，andwhenhecameouthewassofargonethatIknewthegamewasinmyownhands。
"Don'timaginethatIintendedtokillhimincoldblood。
ItwouldonlyhavebeenrigidjusticeifIhaddoneso，butIcouldnotbringmyselftodoit。Ihadlongdeterminedthatheshouldhaveashowforhislifeifhechosetotakeadvantageofit。AmongthemanybilletswhichIhavefilledinAmericaduringmywanderinglife，IwasoncejanitorandsweeperoutofthelaboratoryatYorkCollege。Onedaytheprofessorwaslecturingonpoisions，{25}andheshowedhisstudentssomealkaloid，ashecalledit，whichhehadextractedfromsomeSouthAmericanarrowpoison，andwhichwassopowerfulthattheleastgrainmeantinstantdeath。
Ispottedthebottleinwhichthispreparationwaskept，andwhentheywereallgone，Ihelpedmyselftoalittleofit。
Iwasafairlygooddispenser，soIworkedthisalkaloidintosmall，solublepills，andeachpillIputinaboxwithasimilarpillmadewithoutthepoison。IdeterminedatthetimethatwhenIhadmychance，mygentlemenshouldeachhaveadrawoutofoneoftheseboxes，whileIatethepillthatremained。Itwouldbequiteasdeadly，andagooddeallessnoisythanfiringacrossahandkerchief。FromthatdayIhadalwaysmypillboxesaboutwithme，andthetimehadnowcomewhenIwastousethem。
"Itwasneareronethantwelve，andawild，bleaknight，blowinghardandrainingintorrents。Dismalasitwasoutside，Iwasgladwithin——sogladthatIcouldhaveshoutedoutfrompureexultation。Ifanyofyougentlemenhaveeverpinedforathing，andlongedforitduringtwentylongyears，andthensuddenlyfounditwithinyourreach，youwouldunderstandmyfeelings。Ilitacigar，andpuffedatittosteadymynerves，butmyhandsweretrembling，andmytemplesthrobbingwithexcitement。AsIdrove，IcouldseeoldJohnFerrierandsweetLucylookingatmeoutofthedarknessandsmilingatme，justasplainasIseeyouallinthisroom。Allthewaytheywereaheadofme，oneoneachsideofthehorseuntilIpulledupatthehouseintheBrixtonRoad。
"Therewasnotasoultobeseen，norasoundtobeheard，exceptthedrippingoftherain。WhenIlookedinatthewindow，IfoundDrebberallhuddledtogetherinadrunkensleep。
Ishookhimbythearm，`It'stimetogetout，'Isaid。
"`Allright，cabby，'saidhe。
"Isupposehethoughtwehadcometothehotelthathehadmentioned，forhegotoutwithoutanotherword，andfollowedmedownthegarden。Ihadtowalkbesidehimtokeephimsteady，forhewasstillalittletop-heavy。Whenwecametothedoor，Iopenedit，andledhimintothefrontroom。
Igiveyoumywordthatalltheway，thefatherandthedaughterwerewalkinginfrontofus。
"`It'sinfernallydark，'saidhe，stampingabout。
"`We'llsoonhavealight，'Isaid，strikingamatchandputtingittoawaxcandlewhichIhadbroughtwithme。
`Now，EnochDrebber，'Icontinued，turningtohim，andholdingthelighttomyownface，`whoamI?'
"Hegazedatmewithbleared，drunkeneyesforamoment，andthenIsawahorrorspringupinthem，andconvulsehiswholefeatures，whichshowedmethatheknewme。Hestaggeredbackwithalividface，andIsawtheperspirationbreakoutuponhisbrow，whilehisteethchatteredinhishead。Atthesight，Ileanedmybackagainstthedoorandlaughedloudandlong。Ihadalwaysknownthatvengeancewouldbesweet，butIhadneverhopedforthecontentmentofsoulwhichnowpossessedme。
"`Youdog!'Isaid；`IhavehuntedyoufromSaltLakeCitytoSt。Petersburg，andyouhavealwaysescapedme。Now，atlastyourwanderingshavecometoanend，foreitheryouorI
shallneverseeto-morrow'ssunrise。'HeshrunkstillfurtherawayasIspoke，andIcouldseeonhisfacethathethoughtIwasmad。SoIwasforthetime。Thepulsesinmytemplesbeatlikesledge-hammers，andIbelieveIwouldhavehadafitofsomesortifthebloodhadnotgushedfrommynoseandrelievedme。
"`WhatdoyouthinkofLucyFerriernow?'Icried，lockingthedoor，andshakingthekeyinhisface。`Punishmenthasbeenslowincoming，butithasovertakenyouatlast。'
IsawhiscowardlipstrembleasIspoke。Hewouldhavebeggedforhislife，butheknewwellthatitwasuseless。
"`Wouldyoumurderme?'hestammered。
"`Thereisnomurder，'Ianswered。`Whotalksofmurderingamaddog?Whatmercyhadyouuponmypoordarling，whenyoudraggedherfromherslaughteredfather，andboreherawaytoyouraccursedandshamelessharem。'
"`ItwasnotIwhokilledherfather，'hecried。
"`Butitwasyouwhobrokeherinnocentheart，'Ishrieked，thrustingtheboxbeforehim。`LetthehighGodjudgebetweenus。Chooseandeat。Thereisdeathinoneandlifeintheother。Ishalltakewhatyouleave。Letusseeifthereisjusticeupontheearth，orifweareruledbychance。'
"Hecoweredawaywithwildcriesandprayersformercy，butI
drewmyknifeandheldittohisthroatuntilhehadobeyedme。ThenIswallowedtheother，andwestoodfacingoneanotherinsilenceforaminuteormore，waitingtoseewhichwastoliveandwhichwastodie。ShallIeverforgetthelookwhichcameoverhisfacewhenthefirstwarningpangstoldhimthatthepoisonwasinhissystem?IlaughedasI
sawit，andheldLucy'smarriageringinfrontofhiseyes。
Itwasbutforamoment，fortheactionofthealkaloidisrapid。Aspasmofpaincontortedhisfeatures；hethrewhishandsoutinfrontofhim，staggered，andthen，withahoarsecry，fellheavilyuponthefloor。Iturnedhimoverwithmyfoot，andplacedmyhanduponhisheart。Therewasnomovement。Hewasdead!
"Thebloodhadbeenstreamingfrommynose，butIhadtakennonoticeofit。Idon'tknowwhatitwasthatputitintomyheadtowriteuponthewallwithit。Perhapsitwassomemischievousideaofsettingthepoliceuponawrongtrack，forIfeltlight-heartedandcheerful。IrememberedaGermanbeingfoundinNewYorkwithRACHEwrittenupabovehim，anditwasarguedatthetimeinthenewspapersthatthesecretsocietiesmusthavedoneit。IguessedthatwhatpuzzledtheNewYorkerswouldpuzzletheLondoners，soIdippedmyfingerinmyownbloodandprinteditonaconvenientplaceonthewall。ThenIwalkeddowntomycabandfoundthattherewasnobodyabout，andthatthenightwasstillverywild。IhaddrivensomedistancewhenIputmyhandintothepocketinwhichIusuallykeptLucy'sring，andfoundthatitwasnotthere。Iwasthunderstruckatthis，foritwastheonlymementothatIhadofher。ThinkingthatImighthavedroppeditwhenIstoopedoverDrebber'sbody，Idroveback，andleavingmycabinasidestreet，Iwentboldlyuptothehouse——forIwasreadytodareanythingratherthanlosethering。WhenIarrivedthere，Iwalkedrightintothearmsofapolice-officerwhowascomingout，andonlymanagedtodisarmhissuspicionsbypretendingtobehopelesslydrunk。
"ThatwashowEnochDrebbercametohisend。AllIhadtodothenwastodoasmuchforStangerson，andsopayoffJohnFerrier'sdebt。IknewthathewasstayingatHalliday'sPrivateHotel，andIhungaboutallday，buthenevercameout。{26}fancythathesuspectedsomethingwhenDrebberfailedtoputinanappearance。Hewascunning，wasStangerson，andalwaysonhisguard。Ifhethoughthecouldkeepmeoffbystayingindoorshewasverymuchmistaken。
Isoonfoundoutwhichwasthewindowofhisbedroom，andearlynextmorningItookadvantageofsomeladderswhichwerelyinginthelanebehindthehotel，andsomademywayintohisroominthegreyofthedawn。Iwokehimupandtoldhimthatthehourhadcomewhenhewastoanswerforthelifehehadtakensolongbefore。IdescribedDrebber'sdeathtohim，andIgavehimthesamechoiceofthepoisonedpills。
Insteadofgraspingatthechanceofsafetywhichthatofferedhim，hesprangfromhisbedandflewatmythroat。
Inself-defenceIstabbedhimtotheheart。Itwouldhavebeenthesameinanycase，forProvidencewouldneverhaveallowedhisguiltyhandtopickoutanythingbutthepoison。
"Ihavelittlemoretosay，andit'saswell，forIamaboutdoneup。Iwentoncabbingitforadayorso，intendingtokeepatituntilIcouldsaveenoughtotakemebacktoAmerica。IwasstandingintheyardwhenaraggedyoungsteraskediftherewasacabbytherecalledJeffersonHope，andsaidthathiscabwaswantedbyagentlemanat221B，BakerStreet。Iwentround，suspectingnoharm，andthenextthingIknew，thisyoungmanherehadthebraceletsonmywrists，andasneatlysnackled{27}aseverIsawinmylife。That'sthewholeofmystory，gentlemen。Youmayconsidermetobeamurderer；butIholdthatIamjustasmuchanofficerofjusticeasyouare。"
Sothrillinghadtheman'snarrativebeen，andhismannerwassoimpressivethatwehadsatsilentandabsorbed。Eventheprofessionaldetectives，_blase_{28}astheywereineverydetailofcrime，appearedtobekeenlyinterestedintheman'sstory。
WhenhefinishedwesatforsomeminutesinastillnesswhichwasonlybrokenbythescratchingofLestrade'spencilashegavethefinishingtouchestohisshorthandaccount。
"ThereisonlyonepointonwhichIshouldlikealittlemoreinformation，"SherlockHolmessaidatlast。"WhowasyouraccomplicewhocamefortheringwhichIadvertised?"
Theprisonerwinkedatmyfriendjocosely。"Icantellmyownsecrets，"hesaid，"butIdon'tgetotherpeopleintotrouble。
Isawyouradvertisement，andIthoughtitmightbeaplant，oritmightbetheringwhichIwanted。Myfriendvolunteeredtogoandsee。Ithinkyou'llownhediditsmartly。"
"Notadoubtofthat，"saidHolmesheartily。
"Now，gentlemen，"theInspectorremarkedgravely，"theformsofthelawmustbecompliedwith。OnThursdaytheprisonerwillbebroughtbeforethemagistrates，andyourattendancewillberequired。UntilthenIwillberesponsibleforhim。"
Herangthebellashespoke，andJeffersonHopewasledoffbyacoupleofwarders，whilemyfriendandImadeourwayoutoftheStationandtookacabbacktoBakerStreet。
CHAPTERVII。
THECONCLUSION。
WEhadallbeenwarnedtoappearbeforethemagistratesupontheThursday；butwhentheThursdaycametherewasnooccasionforourtestimony。AhigherJudgehadtakenthematterinhand，andJeffersonHopehadbeensummonedbeforeatribunalwherestrictjusticewouldbemetedouttohim。
Ontheverynightafterhiscapturetheaneurismburst，andhewasfoundinthemorningstretcheduponthefloorofthecell，withaplacidsmileuponhisface，asthoughhehadbeenableinhisdyingmomentstolookbackuponausefullife，andonworkwelldone。
"GregsonandLestradewillbewildabouthisdeath，"
Holmesremarked，aswechatteditovernextevening。
"Wherewilltheirgrandadvertisementbenow?"
"Idon'tseethattheyhadverymuchtodowithhiscapture，"
Ianswered。
"Whatyoudointhisworldisamatterofnoconsequence，"
returnedmycompanion，bitterly。"Thequestionis，whatcanyoumakepeoplebelievethatyouhavedone。Nevermind，"
hecontinued，morebrightly，afterapause。"Iwouldnothavemissedtheinvestigationforanything。Therehasbeennobettercasewithinmyrecollection。Simpleasitwas，therewereseveralmostinstructivepointsaboutit。"
"Simple!"Iejaculated。
"Well，really，itcanhardlybedescribedasotherwise，"saidSherlockHolmes，smilingatmysurprise。"Theproofofitsintrinsicsimplicityis，thatwithoutanyhelpsaveafewveryordinarydeductionsIwasabletolaymyhanduponthecriminalwithinthreedays。"
"Thatistrue，"saidI。
"Ihavealreadyexplainedtoyouthatwhatisoutofthecommonisusuallyaguideratherthanahindrance。
Insolvingaproblemofthissort，thegrandthingistobeabletoreasonbackwards。Thatisaveryusefulaccomplishment，andaveryeasyone，butpeopledonotpractiseitmuch。
Intheevery-dayaffairsoflifeitismoreusefultoreasonforwards，andsotheothercomestobeneglected。
Therearefiftywhocanreasonsyntheticallyforonewhocanreasonanalytically。"
"Iconfess，"saidI，"thatIdonotquitefollowyou。"
"Ihardlyexpectedthatyouwould。LetmeseeifIcanmakeitclearer。Mostpeople，ifyoudescribeatrainofeventstothem，willtellyouwhattheresultwouldbe。Theycanputthoseeventstogetherintheirminds，andarguefromthemthatsomethingwillcometopass。Therearefewpeople，however，who，ifyoutoldthemaresult，wouldbeabletoevolvefromtheirowninnerconsciousnesswhatthestepswerewhichleduptothatresult。ThispoweriswhatImeanwhenItalkofreasoningbackwards，oranalytically。"
"Iunderstand，"saidI。
"Nowthiswasacaseinwhichyouweregiventheresultandhadtofindeverythingelseforyourself。Nowletmeendeavourtoshowyouthedifferentstepsinmyreasoning。
Tobeginatthebeginning。Iapproachedthehouse，asyouknow，onfoot，andwithmymindentirelyfreefromallimpressions。Inaturallybeganbyexaminingtheroadway，andthere，asIhavealreadyexplainedtoyou，Isawclearlythemarksofacab，which，Iascertainedbyinquiry，musthavebeenthereduringthenight。Isatisfiedmyselfthatitwasacabandnotaprivatecarriagebythenarrowgaugeofthewheels。TheordinaryLondongrowlerisconsiderablylesswidethanagentleman'sbrougham。
"Thiswasthefirstpointgained。Ithenwalkedslowlydownthegardenpath，whichhappenedtobecomposedofaclaysoil，peculiarlysuitablefortakingimpressions。Nodoubtitappearedtoyoutobeameretrampledlineofslush，buttomytrainedeyeseverymarkuponitssurfacehadameaning。
Thereisnobranchofdetectivesciencewhichissoimportantandsomuchneglectedastheartoftracingfootsteps。
Happily，Ihavealwayslaidgreatstressuponit，andmuchpracticehasmadeitsecondnaturetome。Isawtheheavyfootmarksoftheconstables，butIsawalsothetrackofthetwomenwhohadfirstpassedthroughthegarden。Itwaseasytotellthattheyhadbeenbeforetheothers，becauseinplacestheirmarkshadbeenentirelyobliteratedbytheotherscominguponthetopofthem。Inthiswaymysecondlinkwasformed，whichtoldmethatthenocturnalvisitorsweretwoinnumber，oneremarkableforhisheightasI
calculatedfromthelengthofhisstride，andtheotherfashionablydressed，tojudgefromthesmallandelegantimpressionleftbyhisboots。
"Onenteringthehousethislastinferencewasconfirmed。
Mywell-bootedmanlaybeforeme。Thetallone，then，haddonethemurder，ifmurdertherewas。Therewasnowounduponthedeadman'sperson，buttheagitatedexpressionuponhisfaceassuredmethathehadforeseenhisfatebeforeitcameuponhim。Menwhodiefromheartdisease，oranysuddennaturalcause，neverbyanychanceexhibitagitationupontheirfeatures。Havingsniffedthedeadman'slipsIdetectedaslightlysoursmell，andIcametotheconclusionthathehadhadpoisonforceduponhim。Again，Iarguedthatithadbeenforceduponhimfromthehatredandfearexpresseduponhisface。Bythemethodofexclusion，Ihadarrivedatthisresult，fornootherhypothesiswouldmeetthefacts。Donotimaginethatitwasaveryunheardofidea。Theforcibleadministrationofpoisonisbynomeansanewthingincriminalannals。ThecasesofDolskyinOdessa，andofLeturierinMontpellier，willoccuratoncetoanytoxicologist。
"Andnowcamethegreatquestionastothereasonwhy。
Robberyhadnotbeentheobjectofthemurder，fornothingwastaken。Wasitpolitics，then，orwasitawoman?Thatwasthequestionwhichconfrontedme。Iwasinclinedfromthefirsttothelattersupposition。Politicalassassinsareonlytoogladtodotheirworkandtofly。Thismurderhad，onthecontrary，beendonemostdeliberately，andtheperpetratorhadlefthistracksallovertheroom，showingthathehadbeenthereallthetime。Itmusthavebeenaprivatewrong，andnotapoliticalone，whichcalledforsuchamethodicalrevenge。WhentheinscriptionwasdiscovereduponthewallIwasmoreinclinedthanevertomyopinion。
Thethingwastooevidentlyablind。Whentheringwasfound，however，itsettledthequestion。Clearlythemurdererhadusedittoremindhisvictimofsomedeadorabsentwoman。ItwasatthispointthatIaskedGregsonwhetherhehadenquiredinhistelegramtoClevelandastoanyparticularpointinMr。Drebber'sformercareer。
Heanswered，youremember，inthenegative。
"Ithenproceededtomakeacarefulexaminationoftheroom，whichconfirmedmeinmyopinionastothemurderer'sheight，andfurnishedmewiththeadditionaldetailsastotheTrichinopolycigarandthelengthofhisnails。Ihadalreadycometotheconclusion，sincetherewerenosignsofastruggle，thatthebloodwhichcoveredthefloorhadburstfromthemurderer'snoseinhisexcitement。Icouldperceivethatthetrackofbloodcoincidedwiththetrackofhisfeet。
Itisseldomthatanyman，unlessheisveryfull-blooded，breaksoutinthiswaythroughemotion，soIhazardedtheopinionthatthecriminalwasprobablyarobustandruddy-facedman。
EventsprovedthatIhadjudgedcorrectly。
"Havingleftthehouse，IproceededtodowhatGregsonhadneglected。ItelegraphedtotheheadofthepoliceatCleveland，limitingmyenquirytothecircumstancesconnectedwiththemarriageofEnochDrebber。Theanswerwasconclusive。
IttoldmethatDrebberhadalreadyappliedfortheprotectionofthelawagainstanoldrivalinlove，namedJeffersonHope，andthatthissameHopewasatpresentinEurope。
IknewnowthatIheldthecluetothemysteryinmyhand，andallthatremainedwastosecurethemurderer。
"IhadalreadydeterminedinmyownmindthatthemanwhohadwalkedintothehousewithDrebber，wasnoneotherthanthemanwhohaddriventhecab。Themarksintheroadshowedmethatthehorsehadwanderedoninawaywhichwouldhavebeenimpossiblehadtherebeenanyoneinchargeofit。Where，then，couldthedriverbe，unlesshewereinsidethehouse?
Again，itisabsurdtosupposethatanysanemanwouldcarryoutadeliberatecrimeundertheveryeyes，asitwere，ofathirdperson，whowassuretobetrayhim。Lastly，supposingonemanwishedtodoganotherthroughLondon，whatbettermeanscouldheadoptthantoturncabdriver。AlltheseconsiderationsledmetotheirresistibleconclusionthatJeffersonHopewastobefoundamongthejarveysoftheMetropolis。
"Ifhehadbeenonetherewasnoreasontobelievethathehadceasedtobe。Onthecontrary，fromhispointofview，anysuddenchancewouldbelikelytodrawattentiontohimself。Hewould，probably，foratimeatleast，continuetoperformhisduties。Therewasnoreasontosupposethathewasgoingunderanassumedname。Whyshouldhechangehisnameinacountrywherenooneknewhisoriginalone?I
thereforeorganizedmyStreetArabdetectivecorps，andsentthemsystematicallytoeverycabproprietorinLondonuntiltheyferretedoutthemanthatIwanted。Howwelltheysucceeded，andhowquicklyItookadvantageofit，arestillfreshinyourrecollection。ThemurderofStangersonwasanincidentwhichwasentirelyunexpected，butwhichcouldhardlyinanycasehavebeenprevented。Throughit，asyouknow，Icameintopossessionofthepills，theexistenceofwhichIhadalreadysurmised。Youseethewholethingisachainoflogicalsequenceswithoutabreakorflaw。"
"Itiswonderful!"Icried。"Yourmeritsshouldbepubliclyrecognized。Youshouldpublishanaccountofthecase。
Ifyouwon't，Iwillforyou。"
"Youmaydowhatyoulike，Doctor，"heanswered。"Seehere!"
hecontinued，handingapaperovertome，"lookatthis!"
Itwasthe_Echo_fortheday，andtheparagraphtowhichhepointedwasdevotedtothecaseinquestion。
"Thepublic，"itsaid，"havelostasensationaltreatthroughthesuddendeathofthemanHope，whowassuspectedofthemurderofMr。EnochDrebberandofMr。JosephStangerson。
Thedetailsofthecasewillprobablybeneverknownnow，thoughweareinformedupongoodauthoritythatthecrimewastheresultofanoldstandingandromanticfeud，inwhichloveandMormonismboreapart。Itseemsthatboththevictimsbelonged，intheiryoungerdays，totheLatterDaySaints，andHope，thedeceasedprisoner，hailsalsofromSaltLakeCity。Ifthecasehashadnoothereffect，it，atleast，bringsoutinthemoststrikingmannertheefficiencyofourdetectivepoliceforce，andwillserveasalessontoallforeignersthattheywilldowiselytosettletheirfeudsathome，andnottocarrythemontoBritishsoil。Itisanopensecretthatthecreditofthissmartcapturebelongsentirelytothewell-knownScotlandYardofficials，Messrs。
LestradeandGregson。Themanwasapprehended，itappears，intheroomsofacertainMr。SherlockHolmes，whohashimself，asanamateur，shownsometalentinthedetectiveline，andwho，withsuchinstructors，mayhopeintimetoattaintosomedegreeoftheirskill。Itisexpectedthatatestimonialofsomesortwillbepresentedtothetwoofficersasafittingrecognitionoftheirservices。"
"Didn'tItellyousowhenwestarted?"criedSherlockHolmeswithalaugh。"That'stheresultofallourStudyinScarlet:
togetthematestimonial!"
"Nevermind，"Ianswered，"Ihaveallthefactsinmyjournal，andthepublicshallknowthem。Inthemeantimeyoumustmakeyourselfcontentedbytheconsciousnessofsuccess，liketheRomanmiser——
"`Populusmesibilat，atmihiplaudoIpsedomisimulacnummoscontemplarinarca。'"