Whenhe"cameto，"asthephrasegoes，hewasastartlingobjecttolookat，withhiscolorlessface，hissunkencheeks，hiswildblackeyes，andhislongblackhair。ThefirstquestionheaskedmeabouthimselfwhenhecouldspeakmademesuspectthatIhadbeencalledintoamaninmyownprofession。Imentionedtohimmysurmise，andhetoldmethatIwasright。
　　HesaidhehadcomelastfromParis，wherehehadbeenattachedtoahospital；thathehadlatelyreturnedtoEngland，onhiswaytoEdinburgh，tocontinuehisstudies；thathehadbeentakenillonthejourney；andthathehadstoppedtorestandrecoverhimselfatDoncaster。Hedidnotaddawordabouthisname，orwhohewas，andofcourseIdidnotquestionhimonthesubject。
　　AllIinquiredwhenheceasedspeakingwaswhatbranchoftheprofessionheintendedtofollow。
　　"Anybranch，"hesaid，bitterly，"whichwillputbreadintothemouthofapoorman。"
　　Atthis，Arthur，whohadbeenhithertowatchinghiminsilentcuriosity，burstoutimpetuouslyinhisusualgood—humoredway：
　　"Mydearfellow"（everybodywas"mydearfellow"withArthur），"nowyouhavecometolifeagain，don’tbeginbybeingdown—heartedaboutyourprospects。I’llanswerforitIcanhelpyoutosomecapitalthinginthemedicalline，or，ifIcan’t，I
　　knowmyfathercan。"
　　Themedicalstudentlookedathimsteadily。
　　"Thankyou，"hesaid，coldly；thenadded，"MayIaskwhoyourfatheris？"
　　"He’swellenoughknownallaboutthispartofthecountry，"
　　repliedArthur。"Heisagreatmanufacturer，andhisnameisHolliday。"
　　Myhandwasontheman’swristduringthisbriefconversation。
　　TheinstantthenameofHollidaywaspronouncedIfeltthepulseundermyfingersflutter，stop，goonsuddenlywithabound，andbeatafterwardforaminuteortwoatthefeverrate。
　　"Howdidyoucomehere？"askedthestranger，quickly，excitably，passionatelyalmost。
　　Arthurrelatedbrieflywhathadhappenedfromthetimeofhisfirsttakingthebedattheinn。
　　"IamindebtedtoMr。Holliday’sson，then，forthehelpthathassavedmylife，"saidthemedicalstudent，speakingtohimself，withasingularsarcasminhisvoice。"Comehere！"
　　Heheldout，ashespoke，hislong，white，bonyrighthand。
　　"Withallmyheart，"saidArthur，takinghishandcordially。"I
　　mayconfessitnow，"hecontinued，laughing，"uponmyhonor，youalmostfrightenedmeoutofmywits。"
　　Thestrangerdidnotseemtolisten。HiswildblackeyeswerefixedwithalookofeagerinterestonArthur’sface，andhislongbonyfingerskepttightholdofArthur’shand。YoungHolliday，onhisside，returnedthegaze，amazedandpuzzledbythemedicalstudent’soddlanguageandmanners。Thetwofaceswereclosetogether；Ilookedatthem，and，tomyamazement，I
　　wassuddenlyimpressedbythesenseofalikenessbetweenthem——notinfeaturesorcomplexion，butsolelyinexpression。Itmusthavebeenastronglikeness，orIshouldcertainlynothavefounditout，forIamnaturallyslowatdetectingresemblancesbetweenfaces。
　　"Youhavesavedmylife，"saidthestrangeman，stilllookinghardinArthur’sface，stillholdingtightlybyhishand。"Ifyouhadbeenmyownbrother，youcouldnothavedonemoreformethanthat。"
　　Helaidasingularlystrongemphasisonthosethreewords"myownbrother，"andachangepassedoverhisfaceashepronouncedthem——achangethatnolanguageofmineiscompetenttodescribe。
　　"IhopeIhavenotdonebeingofservicetoyouyet，"saidArthur。"I’llspeaktomyfatherassoonasIgethome。"
　　"Youseemtobefondandproudofyourfather，"saidthemedicalstudent。"Isuppose，inreturn，heisfondandproudofyou？"
　　"Ofcourseheis，"answeredArthur，laughing。"Isthereanythingwonderfulinthat？Isn’t_your_fatherfond——"
　　ThestrangersuddenlydroppedyoungHolliday’shandandturnedhisfaceaway。
　　"Ibegyourpardon，"saidArthur。"IhopeIhavenotunintentionallypainedyou。Ihopeyouhavenotlostyourfather？"
　　"Ican’twelllosewhatIhaveneverhad，"retortedthemedicalstudent，withaharshmockinglaugh。
　　"Whatyouhaveneverhad！"
　　ThestrangemansuddenlycaughtArthur’shandagain，suddenlylookedoncemorehardinhisface。
　　"Yes，"hesaid，witharepetitionofthebitterlaugh。"Youhavebroughtapoordevilbackintotheworldwhohasnobusinessthere。DoIastonishyou？Well，Ihaveafancyofmyownfortellingyouwhatmeninmysituationgenerallykeepasecret。I
　　havenonameandnofather。ThemercifullawofsocietytellsmeIamnobody’sson！Askyourfatherifhewillbemyfathertoo，andhelpmeoninlifewiththefamilyname。"
　　Arthurlookedatmemorepuzzledthanever。
　　Isignedtohimtosaynothing，andthenlaidmyfingersagainontheman’swrist。No。Inspiteoftheextraordinaryspeechthathehadjustmade，hewasnot，asIhadbeendisposedtosuspect，beginningtogetlight—headed。Hispulse，bythistime，hadfallenbacktoaquiet，slowbeat，andhisskinwasmoistandcool。Notasymptomoffeveroragitationabouthim。
　　Findingthatneitherofusansweredhim，heturnedtome，andbegantalkingoftheextraordinarynatureofhiscase，andaskingmyadviceaboutthefuturecourseofmedicaltreatmenttowhichheoughttosubjecthimself。Isaidthematterrequiredcarefulthinkingover，andsuggestedthatIshouldsendhimaprescriptionalittlelater。Hetoldmetowriteitatonce，ashewouldmostlikelybeleavingDoncasterinthemorningbeforeI
　　wasup。Itwasquiteuselesstorepresenttohimthefollyanddangerofsuchaproceedingasthis。Heheardmepolitelyandpatiently，butheldtohisresolution，withoutofferinganyreasonsorexplanations，andrepeatedtomethat，ifIwishedtogivehimachanceofseeingmyprescription，Imustwriteitatonce。
　　Hearingthis，Arthurvolunteeredtheloanofatravelingwriting—case，whichhesaidhehadwithhim，and，bringingittothebed，shookthenote—paperoutofthepocketofthecaseforthwithinhisusualcarelessway。Withthepapertherefelloutonthecounterpaneofthebedasmallpacketofsticking—plaster，andalittlewater—colordrawingofalandscape。
　　Themedicalstudenttookupthedrawingandlookedatit。Hiseyefellonsomeinitialsneatlywrittenincipherinonecorner。Hestartedandtrembled；hispalefacegrewwhiterthanover；hiswildblackeyesturnedonArthur，andlookedthroughandthroughhim。
　　"Aprettydrawing，"hesaid，inaremarkablyquiettoneofvoice。
　　"Ah！anddonebysuchaprettygirl，"saidArthur。"Oh，suchaprettygirl！Iwishitwasnotalandscape——Iwishitwasaportraitofher！"
　　"Youadmireherverymuch？"
　　Arthur，halfinjest，halfinearnest，kissedhishandforanswer。
　　"Loveatfirstsight，"saidyoungHolliday，puttingthedrawingawayagain。"Butthecourseofitdoesn’trunsmooth。It’stheoldstory。She’smonopolized，asusual；trammeledbyarashengagementtosomepoormanwhoisneverlikelytogetmoneyenoughtomarryher。ItwasluckyIheardofitintime，orI
　　shouldcertainlyhaveriskedadeclarationwhenshegavemethatdrawing。Here，doctor，hereispen，ink，andpaperallreadyforyou。"
　　"Whenshegaveyouthatdrawing？Gaveit？gaveit？"
　　Herepeatedthewordsslowlytohimself，andsuddenlyclosedhiseyes。Amomentarydistortionpassedacrosshisface，andIsawoneofhishandsclutchupthebedclothesandsqueezethemhard。
　　Ithoughthewasgoingtobeillagain，andbeggedthattheremightbenomoretalking。HeopenedhiseyeswhenIspoke，fixedthemoncemoresearchinglyonArthur，andsaid，slowlyanddistinctly：
　　"Youlikeher，andshelikesyou。Thepoormanmaydieoutofyourway。Whocantellthatshemaynotgiveyouherselfaswellasherdrawing，afterall？"
　　BeforeyoungHollidaycouldanswerheturnedtome，andsaidinawhisper："Nowfortheprescription。"Fromthattime，thoughhespoketoArthuragain，heneverlookedathimmore。
　　WhenIhadwrittentheprescription，heexaminedit，approvedofit，andthenastonishedusbothbyabruptlywishingusgood—night。Iofferedtositupwithhim，andheshookhishead。
　　Arthurofferedtositupwithhim，andhesaid，shortly，withhisfaceturnedaway，"No。"Iinsistedonhavingsomebodylefttowatchhim。HegavewaywhenhefoundIwasdetermined，andsaidhewouldaccepttheservicesofthewaiterattheinn。
　　"Thankyouboth，"hesaid，aswerosetogo。"Ihaveonelastfavortoask——notofyou，doctor，forIleaveyoutoexerciseyourprofessionaldiscretion，butofMr。Holliday。"Hiseyes，whilehespoke，stillrestedsteadilyonme，andneveronceturnedtowardArthur。"IbegthatMr。Hollidaywillnotmentiontoanyone，leastofalltohisfather，theeventsthathaveoccurredandthewordsthathavepassedinthisroom。Ientreathimtoburymeinhismemoryas，butforhim，Imighthavebeenburiedinmygrave。Icannotgivemyreasonformakingthisstrangerequest。Icanonlyimplorehimtograntit。"
　　Hisvoicefalteredforthefirsttime，andhehidhisfaceonthepillow。Arthur，completelybewildered，gavetherequiredpledge。
　　ItookyoungHollidayawaywithmeimmediatelyafterwardtothehouseofmyfriend，determiningtogobacktotheinnandtoseethemedicalstudentagainbeforehehadleftinthemorning。
　　Ireturnedtotheinnateighto’clock，purposelyabstainingfromwakingArthur，whowassleepingoffthepastnight’sexcitementononeofmyfriend’ssofas。Asuspicionhadoccurredtome，assoonasIwasaloneinmybedroom，whichmademeresolvethatHollidayandthestrangerwhoselifehehadsavedshouldnotmeetagain，ifIcouldpreventit。
　　IhavealreadyalludedtocertainreportsorscandalswhichI
　　knewofrelatingtotheearlylifeofArthur’sfather。WhileI
　　wasthinking，inmybed，ofwhathadpassedattheinn；ofthechangeinthestudent’spulsewhenheheardthenameofHolliday；
　　oftheresemblanceofexpressionthatIhaddiscoveredbetweenhisfaceandArthur’s；oftheemphasishehadlaidonthosethreewords，"myownbrother，"andofhisincomprehensibleacknowledgmentofhisownillegitimacy——whileIwasthinkingofthesethings，thereportsIhavementionedsuddenlyflewintomymind，andlinkedthemselvesfasttothechainofmypreviousreflections。Somethingwithinmewhispered，"Itisbestthatthosetwoyoungmenshouldnotmeetagain。"IfeltitbeforeI
　　slept；IfeltitwhenIwoke；andIwentasItoldyou，alonetotheinnthenextmorning。
　　Ihadmissedmyonlyopportunityofseeingmynamelesspatientagain。HehadbeengonenearlyanhourwhenIinquiredforhim。
　　IhavenowtoldyoueverythingthatIknowforcertaininrelationtothemanwhomIbroughtbacktolifeinthedouble—beddedroomoftheinnatDoncaster。WhatIhavenexttoaddismatterforinferenceandsurmise，andisnot，strictlyspeaking，matteroffact。
　　Ihavetotellyou，first，thatthemedicalstudentturnedouttobestrangelyandunaccountablyrightinassumingitasmorethanprobablethatArthurHollidaywouldmarrytheyoungladywhohadgivenhimthewater—colordrawingofthelandscape。ThatmarriagetookplacealittlemorethanayearaftertheeventsoccurredwhichIhavejustbeenrelating。
　　TheyoungcouplecametoliveintheneighborhoodinwhichIwasthenestablishedinpractice。Iwaspresentatthewedding，andwasrathersurprisedtofindthatArthurwassingularlyreservedwithme，bothbeforeandafterhismarriage，onthesubjectoftheyounglady’spriorengagement。Heonlyreferredtoitoncewhenwewerealone，merelytellingme，onthatoccasion，thathiswifehaddoneallthathonoranddutyrequiredofherinthematter，andthattheengagementhadbeenbrokenoffwiththefullapprovalofherparents。Ineverheardmorefromhimthanthis。
　　Forthreeyearsheandhiswifelivedtogetherhappily。AttheexpirationofthattimethesymptomsofaseriousillnessfirstdeclaredthemselvesinMrs。ArthurHolliday。Itturnedouttobealong，lingering，hopelessmalady。Iattendedherthroughout。Wehadbeengreatfriendswhenshewaswell，andwebecamemoreattachedtoeachotherthaneverwhenshewasill。Ihadmanylongandinterestingconversationswithherintheintervalswhenshesufferedleast。TheresultofoneofthoseconversationsI
　　maybrieflyrelate，leavingyoutodrawanyinferencesfromitthatyouplease。
　　TheinterviewtowhichIreferoccurredshortlybeforeherdeath。
　　Icalledoneeveningasusual，andfoundheralone，withalookinhereyeswhichtoldmeshehadbeencrying。Sheonlyinformedmeatfirstthatshehadbeendepressedinspirits，butbylittleandlittleshebecamemorecommunicative，andconfessedtomethatshehadbeenlookingoversomeoldletterswhichhadbeenaddressedtoher，beforeshehadseenArthur，byamantowhomshehadbeenengagedtobemarried。Iaskedherhowtheengagementcametobebrokenoff。Sherepliedthatithadnotbeenbrokenoff，butthatithaddiedoutinaverymysteriousway。Thepersontowhomshewasengaged——herfirstlove，shecalledhim——wasverypoor，andtherewasnoimmediateprospectoftheirbeingmarried。Hefollowedmyprofession，andwentabroadtostudy。Theyhadcorrespondedregularlyuntilthetimewhen，asshebelieved，hehadreturnedtoEngland。Fromthatperiodsheheardnomoreofhim。Hewasofafretful，sensitivetemperament，andshefearedthatshemighthaveinadvertentlydoneorsaidsomethingtooffendhim。Howeverthatmightbe，hehadneverwrittentoheragain，andafterwaitingayearshehadmarriedArthur。Iaskedwhenthefirstestrangementhadbegun，andfoundthatthetimeatwhichsheceasedtohearanythingofherfirstloverexactlycorrespondedwiththetimeatwhichIhadbeencalledintomymysteriouspatientatTheTwoRobinsInn。
　　Afortnightafterthatconversationshedied。IncourseoftimeArthurmarriedagain。OflateyearshehaslivedprincipallyinLondon，andIhaveseenlittleornothingofhim。
　　IhavesomeyearstopassoverbeforeIcanapproachtoanythinglikeaconclusionofthisfragmentarynarrative。Andevenwhenthatlaterperiodisreached，thelittlethatIhavetosaywillnotoccupyyourattentionformorethanafewminutes。
　　Onerainyautumnevening，whileIwasstillpracticingasacountrydoctor，Iwassittingalone，thinkingoveracasethenundermycharge，whichsorelyperplexedme，whenIheardalowknockatthedoorofmyroom。
　　"Comein，"Icried，lookingupcuriouslytoseewhowantedme。
　　Afteramomentarydelay，thelockmoved，andalong，white，bonyhandstoleroundthedoorasitopened，gentlypushingitoverafoldinthecarpetwhichhindereditfromworkingfreelyonthehinges。Thehandwasfollowedbyamanwhosefaceinstantlystruckmewithaverystrangesensation。Therewassomethingfamiliartomeinthelookofhim，andyetitwasalsosomethingthatsuggestedtheideaofchange。
　　Hequietlyintroducedhimselfas"Mr。Lorn，"presentedtomesomeexcellentprofessionalrecommendations，andproposedtofilltheplace，thenvacant，ofmyassistant。WhilehewasspeakingI
　　noticeditassingularthatwedidnotappeartobemeetingeachotherlikestrangers，andthat，whileIwascertainlystartledatseeinghim，hedidnotappeartobeatallstartledatseeingme。
　　ItwasonthetipofmytonguetosaythatIthoughtIhadmetwithhimbefore。Buttherewassomethinginhisface，andsomethinginmyownrecollections——Icanhardlysaywhat——whichunaccountablyrestrainedmefromspeakingandwhichasunaccountablyattractedmetohimatonce，andmademefeelreadyandgladtoaccepthisproposal。
　　Hetookhisassistant’splaceonthatveryday。Wegotontogetherasifwehadbeenoldfriendsfromthefirst；but，throughoutthewholetimeofhisresidenceinmyhouse，henevervolunteeredanyconfidencesonthesubjectofhispastlife，andIneverapproachedtheforbiddentopicexceptbyhints，whichheresolutelyrefusedtounderstand。
　　IhadlonghadanotionthatmypatientattheinnmighthavebeenanaturalsonoftheelderMr。Holliday’s，andthathemightalsohavebeenthemanwhowasengagedtoArthur’sfirstwife。
　　Andnowanotherideaoccurredtome，thatMr。Lornwastheonlypersoninexistencewhocould，ifhechose，enlightenmeonboththosedoubtfulpoints。Butheneverdidchoose，andIwasneverenlightened。HeremainedwithmetillIremovedtoLondontotrymyfortunethereasaphysicianforthesecondtime，andthenhewenthiswayandIwentmine，andwehaveneverseenoneanothersince。
　　Icanaddnomore。Imayhavebeenrightinmysuspicion，orI
　　mayhavebeenwrong。AllIknowisthat，inthosedaysofmycountrypractice，whenIcamehomelate，andfoundmyassistantasleep，andwokehim，heusedtolook，incomingto，wonderfullylikethestrangeratDoncasterasheraisedhimselfinthebedonthatmemorablenight。
　　THESIXTHDAY
　　ANoppressivelymildtemperature，andsteady，soft，settledrain——dismalweatherforidlepeopleinthecountry。MissJessie，afterlookinglonginglyoutofthewindow，resignedherselftocircumstances，andgaveupallhopeofaride。Thegardener，theconservatory，therabbits，theraven，thehousekeeper，and，asalastresource，eventheneglectedpiano，werealllaidundercontributiontohelpherthroughthetime。Itwasalongday，butthankstoherowntalentfortrifling，shecontrivedtooccupyitpleasantlyenough。
　　Stillnonewsofmyson。Thetimewasgettingonnow，anditwassurelynotunreasonabletolookforsometidingsofhim。
　　To—dayMorganandIbothfinishedourthirdandlaststories。I
　　correctedmybrother’scontributionwithnoverygreatdifficultyonthisoccasion，andnumbereditNine。Myownstorycamenext，andwasthusaccidentallydistinguishedasthelastoftheseries——NumberTen。WhenIdroppedthetwocorrespondingcardsintothebowl，thethoughtthattherewouldbenownomoretoaddseemedtoquickenmyprevailingsenseofanxietyonthesubjectofGeorge’sreturn。Aheavydepressionhunguponmyspirits，andIwentoutdesperatelyintheraintoshakemymindfreeofoppressinginfluencesbydintofhardbodilyexercise。
　　ThenumberdrawnthiseveningwasThree。Ontheproductionofthecorrespondingmanuscriptitprovedtobemyturntoreadagain。
　　"Icanpromiseyoualittlevarietyto—night，"Isaid，addressingourfairguest，"ifIcanpromisenothingelse。ThistimeitisnotastoryofmyownwritingthatIamabouttoread，butacopyofaverycuriouscorrespondencewhichIfoundamongmyprofessionalpapers。"
　　Jessie’scountenancefell。"Istherenostoryinit？"sheasked，ratherdiscontentedly。
　　"Certainlythereisastoryinit，"Ireplied——"astoryofamuchlighterkindthananywehaveyetread，andwhichmay，onthataccount，proveacceptable，bywayofcontrastandrelief，evenifitfailstoattractyoubyothermeans。Iobtainedtheoriginalcorrespondence，Imusttellyou，fromtheofficeoftheDetectivePoliceofLondon。"
　　Jessie’sfacebrightened。"Thatpromisessomethingtobeginwith，"shesaid。
　　"Someyearssince，"Icontinued，"therewasadesireatheadquarterstoincreasethenumbersandefficiencyoftheDetectivePolice，andIhadthehonorofbeingoneofthepersonsprivatelyconsultedonthatoccasion。Thechiefobstacletotheplanproposedlayinthedifficultyoffindingnewrecruits。TheordinaryrankandfileofthepoliceofLondonaresober，trustworthy，andcourageousmen，butasabodytheyaresadlywantinginintelligence。Knowingthis，theauthoritiestookintoconsiderationascheme，whichlookedplausibleenoughonpaper，foravailingthemselvesoftheservicesofthatproverbiallysharpclassofmen，theexperiencedclerksinattorney’soffices。
　　Amongthepersonswhoseadvicewassoughtonthispoint，Iwastheonlyonewhodissentedfromthearrangementproposed。Ifeltcertainthatthereallyexperiencedclerksintrustedwithconductingprivateinvestigationsandhuntinguplostevidence，weretoowellpaidandtooindependentlysituatedintheirvariousofficestocareaboutenteringtheranksoftheDetectivePolice，andsubmittingthemselvestotherigiddisciplineofScotlandYard，andIventuredtopredictthattheinferiorclerksonly，whosediscretionwasnottobetrusted，wouldprovetobethemenwhovolunteeredfordetectiveemployment。Myadvicewasnottakenandtheexperimentofenlistingtheclerkswastriedintwoorthreecases。Iwasnaturallyinterestedintheresult，andinduecourseoftimeIappliedforinformationintherightquarter。Inreply，theoriginalsofthelettersofwhichIamnowabouttoreadthecopiesweresenttome，withanintimationthatthecorrespondenceinthisparticularinstanceofferedafairspecimenoftheresultsoftheexperimentintheothercases。Thelettersamusedme，andIobtainedpermissiontocopythembeforeIsentthemback。Youwillnowhear，therefore，byhisownstatement，howacertainattorney’sclerksucceededinconductingaverydelicateinvestigation，andhowtheregularmembersoftheDetectivePolicecontrivedtohelphimthroughhisfirstexperiment。"
　　BROTHERGRIFFITH’SSTORY
　　ofTHEBITERBIT。
　　_ExtractedfromtheCorrespondenceoftheLondonPolice_。
　　FROMCHIEFINSPECTORTHEAKSTONE，OFTHEDETECTIVEPOLICE，TO
　　SERGEANTBULMER，OFTHESAMEFORCE。
　　London，4thJuly，18——。
　　SERGEANTBULMER——Thisistoinformyouthatyouarewantedtoassistinlookingupacaseofimportance，whichwillrequirealltheattentionofanexperiencedmemberoftheforce。Thematteroftherobberyonwhichyouarenowengagedyouwillpleasetoshiftovertotheyoungmanwhobringsyouthisletter。Youwilltellhimallthecircumstancesofthecase，justastheystand；
　　youwillputhimuptotheprogressyouhavemade（ifany）towarddetectingthepersonorpersonsbywhomthemoneyhasbeenstolen；andyouwillleavehimtomakethebesthecanofthematternowinyourhands。Heistohavethewholeresponsibilityofthecase，andthewholecreditofhissuccessifhebringsittoaproperissue。
　　SomuchfortheordersthatIamdesiredtocommunicatetoyou。
　　Awordinyourear，next，aboutthisnewmanwhoistotakeyourplace。HisnameisMatthewSharpin，andheistohavethechancegivenhimofdashingintoourofficeatonejump——supposingheturnsoutstrongenoughtotakeit。Youwillnaturallyaskmehowhecomesbythisprivilege。Icanonlytellyouthathehassomeuncommonlystronginteresttobackhimincertainhighquarters，whichyouandIhadbetternotmentionexceptunderourbreaths。
　　Hehasbeenalawyer’sclerk，andheiswonderfullyconceitedinhisopinionofhimself，aswellasmeanandunderhand，tolookat。Accordingtohisownaccount，heleaveshisoldtradeandjoinsoursofhisownfreewillandpreference。YouwillnomorebelievethatthanIdo。Mynotionis，thathehasmanagedtoferretoutsomeprivateinformationinconnectionwiththeaffairsofoneofhismaster’sclients，whichmakeshimratheranawkwardcustomertokeepintheofficeforthefuture，andwhich，atthesametime，giveshimholdenoughoverhisemployertomakeitdangeroustodrivehimintoacornerbyturninghimaway。I
　　thinkthegivinghimthisunheard—ofchanceamongusis，inplainwords，prettymuchlikegivinghimhushmoneytokeephimquiet。
　　Howeverthatmaybe，Mr。MatthewSharpinistohavethecasenowinyourhands，andifhesucceedswithithepokeshisuglynoseintoourofficeassureasfate。Iputyouuptothis，sergeant，sothatyoumaynotstandinyourownlightbygivingthenewmananycausetocomplainofyouatheadquarters，andremainyours，FRANCISTHEAKSTONE。
　　FROMMR。MATTHEWSHARPINTOCHIEFINSPECTORTHEAKSTONE。
　　London，5thJuly，18——。
　　DEARSIR——HavingnowbeenfavoredwiththenecessaryinstructionsfromSergeantBulmer，IbegtoremindyouofcertaindirectionswhichIhavereceivedrelatingtothereportofmyfutureproceedingswhichIamtoprepareforexaminationatheadquarters。
　　Theobjectofmywriting，andofyourexaminingwhatIhavewrittenbeforeyousendittothehigherauthorities，is，Iaminformed，togiveme，asanuntriedhand，thebenefitofyouradviceincaseIwantit（whichIventuretothinkIshallnot）
　　atanystageofmyproceedings。AstheextraordinarycircumstancesofthecaseonwhichIamnowengagedmakeitimpossibleformetoabsentmyselffromtheplacewheretherobberywascommitteduntilIhavemadesomeprogresstowarddiscoveringthethief，Iamnecessarilyprecludedfromconsultingyoupersonally。Hencethenecessityofmywritingdownthevariousdetails，whichmightperhapsbebettercommunicatedbywordofmouth。This，ifIamnotmistaken，isthepositioninwhichwearenowplaced。Istatemyownimpressionsonthesubjectinwriting，inorderthatwemayclearlyunderstandeachotherattheoutset；andhavethehonortoremainyourobedientservant，MATTHEWSHARPIN。
　　FROMCHIEFINSPECTORTHEAKSTONETOMR。MATTHEWSHARPIN。
　　London，5thJuly，18——。
　　SIR——Youhavebegunbywastingtime，ink，andpaper。WebothofusperfectlywellknewthepositionwestoodintowardeachotherwhenIsentyouwithmylettertoSergeantBulmer。Therewasnottheleastneedtorepeatitinwriting。Besogoodastoemployyourpeninfutureonthebusinessactuallyinhand。
　　Youhavenowthreeseparatemattersonwhichtowriteme。First，youhavetodrawupastatementofyourinstructionsreceivedfromSergeantBulmer，inordertoshowusthatnothinghasescapedyourmemory，andthatyouarethoroughlyacquaintedwithallthecircumstancesofthecasewhichhasbeenintrustedtoyou。Secondly，youaretoinformmewhatitisyouproposetodo。
　　Thirdly，youaretoreporteveryinchofyourprogress（ifyoumakeany）fromdaytoday，and，ifneedbe，fromhourtohouraswell。Thisis_your_duty。Astowhat_my_dutymaybe，whenI
　　wantyoutoremindmeofit，Iwillwriteandtellyouso。Inthemeantime，Iremainyours，FRANCISTHEAKSTONE。