Theplacewaslocked，butHolmesremovedacircleofglassandturnedthekeyfromtheinside。Aninstantafterwardshehadclosedthedoorbehindus，andwehadbecomefelonsintheeyesofthelaw。Thethick，warmairoftheconservatoryandtherich，chokingfragranceofexoticplantstookusbythethroat。
Heseizedmyhandinthedarknessandledmeswiftlypastbanksofshrubswhichbrushedagainstourfaces。Holmeshadremarkablepowers，carefullycultivated，ofseeinginthedark。
Stillholdingmyhandinoneofhisheopenedadoor，andIwasvaguelyconsciousthatwehadenteredalargeroominwhichacigarhadbeensmokednotlongbefore。Hefelthiswayamongthefurniture，openedanotherdoor，andcloseditbehindus。
PuttingoutmyhandIfeltseveralcoatshangingfromthewall，andIunderstoodthatIwasinapassage。Wepassedalongit，andHolmesverygentlyopenedadoorupontheright—handside。
Somethingrushedoutatusandmyheartsprangintomymouth，butIcouldhavelaughedwhenIrealizedthatitwasthecat。
Afirewasburninginthisnewroom，andagaintheairwasheavywithtobaccosmoke。Holmesenteredontiptoe，waitedformetofollow，andthenverygentlyclosedthedoor。WewereinMilverton’sstudy，andaPORTIEREatthefarthersideshowedtheentrancetohisbedroom。
Itwasagoodfire，andtheroomwasilluminatedbyit。
NearthedoorIsawthegleamofanelectricswitch，butitwasunnecessary，evenifithadbeensafe，toturniton。
Atonesideofthefireplacewasaheavycurtain，whichcoveredthebaywindowwehadseenfromoutside。Ontheothersidewasthedoorwhichcommunicatedwiththeveranda。Adeskstoodinthecentre，withaturningchairofshiningredleather。Oppositewasalargebookcase，withamarblebustofAtheneonthetop。
Inthecornerbetweenthebookcaseandthewalltherestoodatallgreensafe，thefirelightflashingbackfromthepolishedbrassknobsuponitsface。Holmesstoleacrossandlookedatit。Thenhecrepttothedoorofthebedroom，andstoodwithslantingheadlisteningintently。Nosoundcamefromwithin。
Meanwhileithadstruckmethatitwouldbewisetosecureourretreatthroughtheouterdoor，soIexaminedit。Tomyamazementitwasneitherlockednorbolted！ItouchedHolmesonthearm，andheturnedhismaskedfaceinthatdirection。
Isawhimstart，andhewasevidentlyassurprisedasI。
"Idon’tlikeit，"hewhispered，puttinghislipstomyveryear。
"Ican’tquitemakeitout。Anyhow，wehavenotimetolose。"
"CanIdoanything？"
"Yes；standbythedoor。Ifyouhearanyonecome，boltitontheinside，andwecangetawayaswecame。Iftheycometheotherway，wecangetthroughthedoorifourjobisdone，orhidebehindthesewindowcurtainsifitisnot。Doyouunderstand？"
Inoddedandstoodbythedoor。Myfirstfeelingoffearhadpassedaway，andIthrillednowwithakeenerzestthanIhadeverenjoyedwhenwewerethedefendersofthelawinsteadofitsdefiers。Thehighobjectofourmission，theconsciousnessthatitwasunselfishandchivalrous，thevillainouscharacterofouropponent，alladdedtothesportinginterestoftheadventure。Farfromfeelingguilty，Irejoicedandexultedinourdangers。WithaglowofadmirationIwatchedHolmesunrollinghiscaseofinstrumentsandchoosinghistoolwiththecalm，scientificaccuracyofasurgeonwhoperformsadelicateoperation。Iknewthattheopeningofsafeswasaparticularhobbywithhim，andIunderstoodthejoywhichitgavehimtobeconfrontedwiththisgreenandgoldmonster，thedragonwhichheldinitsmawthereputationsofmanyfairladies。Turningupthecuffsofhisdress—coat——hehadplacedhisovercoatonachair——Holmeslaidouttwodrills，ajemmy，andseveralskeletonkeys。Istoodatthecentredoorwithmyeyesglancingateachoftheothers，readyforanyemergency；though，indeed，myplansweresomewhatvagueastowhatIshoulddoifwewereinterrupted。ForhalfanhourHolmesworkedwithconcentratedenergy，layingdownonetool，pickingupanother，handlingeachwiththestrengthanddelicacyofthetrainedmechanic。FinallyIheardaclick，thebroadgreendoorswungopen，andinsideIhadaglimpseofanumberofpaperpackets，eachtied，sealed，andinscribed。Holmespickedoneout，butitwashardtoreadbytheflickeringfire，andhedrewouthislittledarklantern，foritwastoodangerous，withMilvertoninthenextroom，toswitchontheelectriclight。SuddenlyIsawhimhalt，listenintently，andtheninaninstanthehadswungthedoorofthesafeto，pickeduphiscoat，stuffedhistoolsintothepockets，anddartedbehindthewindowcurtain，motioningmetodothesame。
ItwasonlywhenIhadjoinedhimtherethatIheardwhathadalarmedhisquickersenses。Therewasanoisesomewherewithinthehouse。Adoorslammedinthedistance。Thenaconfused，dullmurmurbrokeitselfintothemeasuredthudofheavyfootstepsrapidlyapproaching。Theywereinthepassageoutsidetheroom。Theypausedatthedoor。Thedooropened。Therewasasharpsnickastheelectriclightwasturnedon。Thedoorclosedoncemore，andthepungentreekofastrongcigarwasbornetoournostrils。Thenthefootstepscontinuedbackwardsandforwards，backwardsandforwards，withinafewyardsofus。
Finally，therewasacreakfromachair，andthefootstepsceased。
ThenakeyclickedinalockandIheardtherustleofpapers。
SofarIhadnotdaredtolookout，butnowIgentlypartedthedivisionofthecurtainsinfrontofmeandpeepedthrough。
FromthepressureofHolmes’sshoulderagainstmineIknewthathewassharingmyobservations。Rightinfrontofus，andalmostwithinourreach，wasthebroad，roundedbackofMilverton。Itwasevidentthatwehadentirelymiscalculatedhismovements，thathehadneverbeentohisbedroom，butthathehadbeensittingupinsomesmokingorbilliardroominthefartherwingofthehouse，thewindowsofwhichwehadnotseen。
Hisbroad，grizzledhead，withitsshiningpatchofbaldness，wasintheimmediateforegroundofourvision。Hewasleaningfarbackintheredleatherchair，hislegsoutstretched，alongblackcigarprojectingatananglefromhismouth。Heworeasemi—militarysmokingjacket，claret—coloured，withablackvelvetcollar。Inhishandheheldalonglegaldocument，whichhewasreadinginanindolentfashion，blowingringsoftobaccosmokefromhislipsashedidso。Therewasnopromiseofaspeedydepartureinhiscomposedbearingandhiscomfortableattitude。
IfeltHolmes’shandstealintomineandgivemeareassuringshake，asiftosaythatthesituationwaswithinhispowersandthathewaseasyinhismind。Iwasnotsurewhetherhehadseenwhatwasonlytooobviousfrommyposition，thatthedoorofthesafewasimperfectlyclosed，andthatMilvertonmightatanymomentobserveit。InmyownmindIhaddeterminedthatifIweresure，fromtherigidityofhisgaze，thatithadcaughthiseye，Iwouldatoncespringout，throwmygreat—coatoverhishead，pinionhim，andleavetheresttoHolmes。
ButMilvertonneverlookedup。Hewaslanguidlyinterestedbythepapersinhishand，andpageafterpagewasturnedashefollowedtheargumentofthelawyer。Atleast，Ithought，whenhehasfinishedthedocumentandthecigarhewillgotohisroom；butbeforehehadreachedtheendofeithertherecamearemarkabledevelopmentwhichturnedourthoughtsintoquiteanotherchannel。
SeveraltimesIhadobservedthatMilvertonlookedathiswatch，andoncehehadrisenandsatdownagain，withagestureofimpatience。Theidea，however，thathemighthaveanappointmentatsostrangeanhourneveroccurredtomeuntilafaintsoundreachedmyearsfromtheverandaoutside。
Milvertondroppedhispapersandsatrigidinhischair。
Thesoundwasrepeated，andthentherecameagentletapatthedoor。Milvertonroseandopenedit。
"Well，"saidhe，curtly，"youarenearlyhalfanhourlate。"
SothiswastheexplanationoftheunlockeddoorandofthenocturnalvigilofMilverton。Therewasthegentlerustleofawoman’sdress。IhadclosedtheslitbetweenthecurtainsasMilverton’sfacehadturnedinourdirection，butnowIventuredverycarefullytoopenitoncemore。Hehadresumedhisseat，thecigarstillprojectingataninsolentanglefromthecornerofhismouth。Infrontofhim，inthefullglareoftheelectriclight，therestoodatall，slim，darkwoman，aveiloverherface，amantledrawnroundherchin。Herbreathcamequickandfast，andeveryinchofthelithefigurewasquiveringwithstrongemotion。
"Well，"saidMilverton，"you’vemademeloseagoodnight’srest，mydear。Ihopeyou’llproveworthit。Youcouldn’tcomeanyothertime——eh？"
Thewomanshookherhead。
"Well，ifyoucouldn’tyoucouldn’t。IftheCountessisahardmistressyouhaveyourchancetogetlevelwithhernow。
Blessthegirl，whatareyoushiveringabout？That’sright！
Pullyourselftogether！Now，letusgetdowntobusiness。"
Hetookanotefromthedrawerofhisdesk。"YousaythatyouhavefiveletterswhichcompromisetheCountessd’Albert。
Youwanttosellthem。Iwanttobuythem。Sofarsogood。
Itonlyremainstofixaprice。Ishouldwanttoinspecttheletters，ofcourse。Iftheyarereallygoodspecimens———
Greatheavens，isityou？"
Thewomanwithoutawordhadraisedherveilanddroppedthemantlefromherchin。Itwasadark，handsome，clear—cutfacewhichconfrontedMilverton，afacewithacurvednose，strong，darkeyebrowsshadinghard，glitteringeyes，andastraight，thin—lippedmouthsetinadangeroussmile。
"ItisI，"shesaid；"thewomanwhoselifeyouhaveruined。"
Milvertonlaughed，butfearvibratedinhisvoice。"Youweresoveryobstinate，"saidhe。"Whydidyoudrivemetosuchextremities？IassureyouIwouldn’thurtaflyofmyownaccord，buteverymanhashisbusiness，andwhatwasItodo？
Iputthepricewellwithinyourmeans。Youwouldnotpay。"
"Soyousenttheletterstomyhusband，andhe——thenoblestgentlemanthateverlived，amanwhosebootsIwasneverworthytolace——hebrokehisgallantheartanddied。YourememberthatlastnightwhenIcamethroughthatdoorIbeggedandprayedyouformercy，andyoulaughedinmyfaceasyouaretryingtolaughnow，onlyyourcowardheartcannotkeepyourlipsfromtwitching？Yes，youneverthoughttoseemehereagain，butitwasthatnightwhichtaughtmehowIcouldmeetyoufacetoface，andalone。Well，CharlesMilverton，whathaveyoutosay？"
"Don’timaginethatyoucanbullyme，"saidhe，risingtohisfeet。"Ihaveonlytoraisemyvoice，andIcouldcallmyservantsandhaveyouarrested。ButIwillmakeallowanceforyournaturalanger。Leavetheroomatonceasyoucame，andIwillsaynomore。"
Thewomanstoodwithherhandburiedinherbosom，andthesamedeadlysmileonherthinlips。
"Youwillruinnomorelivesasyouruinedmine。Youwillwringnomoreheartsasyouwrungmine。Iwillfreetheworldofapoisonousthing。Takethat，youhound，andthat！——andthat！
——andthat！"
Shehaddrawnalittle，gleamingrevolver，andemptiedbarrelafterbarrelintoMilverton’sbody，themuzzlewithintwofeetofhisshirtfront。Heshrankawayandthenfellforwarduponthetable，coughingfuriouslyandclawingamongthepapers。
Thenhestaggeredtohisfeet，receivedanothershot，androlleduponthefloor。"You’vedoneme，"hecried，andlaystill。
Thewomanlookedathimintentlyandgroundherheelintohisupturnedface。Shelookedagain，buttherewasnosoundormovement。Iheardasharprustle，thenightairblewintotheheatedroom，andtheavengerwasgone。
Nointerferenceuponourpartcouldhavesavedthemanfromhisfate；butasthewomanpouredbulletafterbulletintoMilverton’sshrinkingbodyIwasabouttospringout，whenI
feltHolmes’scold，stronggraspuponmywrist。Iunderstoodthewholeargumentofthatfirm，restraininggrip——thatitwasnoaffairofours；thatjusticehadovertakenavillain；thatwehadourowndutiesandourownobjectswhichwerenottobelostsightof。ButhardlyhadthewomanrushedfromtheroomwhenHolmes，withswift，silentsteps，wasoverattheotherdoor。
Heturnedthekeyinthelock。Atthesameinstantweheardvoicesinthehouseandthesoundofhurryingfeet。Therevolvershotshadrousedthehousehold。WithperfectcoolnessHolmesslippedacrosstothesafe，filledhistwoarmswithbundlesofletters，andpouredthemallintothefire。Againandagainhedidit，untilthesafewasempty。Someoneturnedthehandleandbeatupontheoutsideofthedoor。Holmeslookedswiftlyround。TheletterwhichhadbeenthemessengerofdeathforMilvertonlay，allmottledwithhisblood，uponthetable。
Holmestosseditinamongtheblazingpapers。Thenhedrewthekeyfromtheouterdoor，passedthroughafterme，andlockeditontheoutside。"Thisway，Watson，"saidhe；"wecanscalethegardenwallinthisdirection。"
Icouldnothavebelievedthatanalarmcouldhavespreadsoswiftly。Lookingback，thehugehousewasoneblazeoflight。
Thefrontdoorwasopen，andfigureswererushingdownthedrive。Thewholegardenwasalivewithpeople，andonefellowraisedaview—halloaasweemergedfromtheverandaandfollowedhardatourheels。Holmesseemedtoknowthegroundperfectly，andhethreadedhiswayswiftlyamongaplantationofsmalltrees，Icloseathisheels，andourforemostpursuerpantingbehindus。Itwasasix—footwallwhichbarredourpath，buthesprangtothetopandover。AsIdidthesameIfeltthehandofthemanbehindmegrabatmyankle；butIkickedmyselffreeandscrambledoveraglass—strewncoping。Ifelluponmyfaceamongsomebushes；butHolmeshadmeonmyfeetinaninstant，andtogetherwedashedawayacrossthehugeexpanseofHampsteadHeath。Wehadruntwomiles，Isuppose，beforeHolmesatlasthaltedandlistenedintently。Allwasabsolutesilencebehindus。
Wehadshakenoffourpursuersandweresafe。
WehadbreakfastedandweresmokingourmorningpipeonthedayaftertheremarkableexperiencewhichIhaverecordedwhenMr。Lestrade，ofScotlandYard，verysolemnandimpressive，wasusheredintoourmodestsitting—room。
"Goodmorning，Mr。Holmes，"saidhe；"goodmorning。
MayIaskifyouareverybusyjustnow？"
"Nottoobusytolistentoyou。"
"Ithoughtthat，perhaps，ifyouhadnothingparticularonhand，youmightcaretoassistusinamostremarkablecasewhichoccurredonlylastnightatHampstead。"
"Dearme！"saidHolmes。"Whatwasthat？"
"Amurder——amostdramaticandremarkablemurder。Iknowhowkeenyouareuponthesethings，andIwouldtakeitasagreatfavourifyouwouldstepdowntoAppledoreTowersandgiveusthebenefitofyouradvice。Itisnoordinarycrime。WehavehadoureyesuponthisMr。Milvertonforsometime，and，betweenourselves，hewasabitofavillain。Heisknowntohaveheldpaperswhichheusedforblackmailingpurposes。Thesepapershaveallbeenburnedbythemurderers。Noarticleofvaluewastaken，asitisprobablethatthecriminalsweremenofgoodposition，whosesoleobjectwastopreventsocialexposure。"
"Criminals！"saidHolmes。"Plural！"
"Yes，thereweretwoofthem。Theywere，asnearlyaspossible，capturedred—handed。Wehavetheirfoot—marks，wehavetheirdescription；it’stentoonethatwetracethem。Thefirstfellowwasabittooactive，butthesecondwascaughtbytheunder—gardenerandonlygotawayafterastruggle。Hewasamiddle—sized，strongly—builtman——squarejaw，thickneck，moustache，amaskoverhiseyes。"
"That’srathervague，"saidSherlockHolmes。
"Why，itmightbeadescriptionofWatson！"
"It’strue，"saidtheinspector，withmuchamusement。
"ItmightbeadescriptionofWatson。"
"Well，IamafraidIcan’thelpyou，Lestrade，"saidHolmes。
"ThefactisthatIknewthisfellowMilverton，thatI
consideredhimoneofthemostdangerousmeninLondon，andthatIthinktherearecertaincrimeswhichthelawcannottouch，andwhichtherefore，tosomeextent，justifyprivaterevenge。
No，it’snousearguing。Ihavemadeupmymind。Mysympathiesarewiththecriminalsratherthanwiththevictim，andIwillnothandlethiscase。"
Holmeshadnotsaidonewordtomeaboutthetragedywhichwehadwitnessed，butIobservedallthemorningthathewasinhismostthoughtfulmood，andhegavemetheimpression，fromhisvacanteyesandhisabstractedmanner，ofamanwhoisstrivingtorecallsomethingtohismemory。Wewereinthemiddleofourlunchwhenhesuddenlysprangtohisfeet。"ByJove，Watson；
I’vegotit！"hecried。"Takeyourhat！Comewithme！"
HehurriedathistopspeeddownBakerStreetandalongOxfordStreet，untilwehadalmostreachedRegentCircus。Hereonthelefthandtherestandsashopwindowfilledwithphotographsofthecelebritiesandbeautiesoftheday。Holmes’seyesfixedthemselvesupononeofthem，andfollowinghisgazeIsawthepictureofaregalandstatelyladyinCourtdress，withahighdiamondtiarauponhernoblehead。Ilookedatthatdelicately—curvednose，atthemarkedeyebrows，atthestraightmouth，andthestronglittlechinbeneathit。ThenIcaughtmybreathasIreadthetime—honouredtitleofthegreatnoblemanandstatesmanwhosewifeshehadbeen。MyeyesmetthoseofHolmes，andheputhisfingertohislipsasweturnedawayfromthewindow。
VIII。———TheAdventureoftheSixNapoleons。
ITwasnoveryunusualthingforMr。Lestrade，ofScotlandYard，tolookinuponusofanevening，andhisvisitswerewelcometoSherlockHolmes，fortheyenabledhimtokeepintouchwithallthatwasgoingonatthepolicehead—quarters。InreturnforthenewswhichLestradewouldbring，Holmeswasalwaysreadytolistenwithattentiontothedetailsofanycaseuponwhichthedetectivewasengaged，andwasableoccasionally，withoutanyactiveinterference，togivesomehintorsuggestiondrawnfromhisownvastknowledgeandexperience。
OnthisparticulareveningLestradehadspokenoftheweatherandthenewspapers。Thenhehadfallensilent，puffingthoughtfullyathiscigar。Holmeslookedkeenlyathim。
"Anythingremarkableonhand？"heasked。
"Oh，no，Mr。Holmes，nothingveryparticular。"
"Thentellmeaboutit。"
Lestradelaughed。
"Well，Mr。Holmes，thereisnousedenyingthatthereIS
somethingonmymind。AndyetitissuchanabsurdbusinessthatIhesitatedtobotheryouaboutit。Ontheotherhand，althoughitistrivial，itisundoubtedlyqueer，andIknowthatyouhaveatasteforallthatisoutofthecommon。ButinmyopinionitcomesmoreinDr。Watson’slinethanours。"
"Disease？"saidI。
"Madness，anyhow。Andaqueermadnesstoo！Youwouldn’tthinktherewasanyonelivingatthistimeofdaywhohadsuchahatredofNapoleontheFirstthathewouldbreakanyimageofhimthathecouldsee。"
Holmessankbackinhischair。
"That’snobusinessofmine，"saidhe。
"Exactly。That’swhatIsaid。Butthen，whenthemancommitsburglaryinordertobreakimageswhicharenothisown，thatbringsitawayfromthedoctorandontothepoliceman。"
Holmessatupagain。
"Burglary！Thisismoreinteresting。Letmehearthedetails。"
Lestradetookouthisofficialnote—bookandrefreshedhismemoryfromitspages。
"Thefirstcasereportedwasfourdaysago，"saidhe。"ItwasattheshopofMorseHudson，whohasaplaceforthesaleofpicturesandstatuesintheKenningtonRoad。Theassistanthadleftthefrontshopforaninstantwhenheheardacrash，andhurryinginhefoundaplasterbustofNapoleon，whichstoodwithseveralotherworksofartuponthecounter，lyingshiveredintofragments。Herushedoutintotheroad，but，althoughseveralpassers—bydeclaredthattheyhadnoticedamanrunoutoftheshop，hecouldneitherseeanyonenorcouldhefindanymeansofidentifyingtherascal。ItseemedtobeoneofthosesenselessactsofHooliganismwhichoccurfromtimetotime，anditwasreportedtotheconstableonthebeatassuch。
Theplastercastwasnotworthmorethanafewshillings，andthewholeaffairappearedtobetoochildishforanyparticularinvestigation。
"Thesecondcase，however，wasmoreseriousandalsomoresingular。Itoccurredonlylastnight。
"InKenningtonRoad，andwithinafewhundredyardsofMorseHudson’sshop，therelivesawell—knownmedicalpractitioner，namedDr。Barnicot，whohasoneofthelargestpracticesuponthesouthsideoftheThames。Hisresidenceandprincipalconsulting—roomisatKenningtonRoad，buthehasabranchsurgeryanddispensaryatLowerBrixtonRoad，twomilesaway。
ThisDr。BarnicotisanenthusiasticadmirerofNapoleon，andhishouseisfullofbooks，pictures，andrelicsoftheFrenchEmperor。SomelittletimeagohepurchasedfromMorseHudsontwoduplicateplastercastsofthefamousheadofNapoleonbytheFrenchsculptor，Devine。OneoftheseheplacedinhishallinthehouseatKenningtonRoad，andtheotheronthemantelpieceofthesurgeryatLowerBrixton。Well，whenDr。
Barnicotcamedownthismorninghewasastonishedtofindthathishousehadbeenburgledduringthenight，butthatnothinghadbeentakensavetheplasterheadfromthehall。Ithadbeencarriedoutandhadbeendashedsavagelyagainstthegardenwall，underwhichitssplinteredfragmentswerediscovered。"
Holmesrubbedhishands。
"Thisiscertainlyverynovel，"saidhe。
"Ithoughtitwouldpleaseyou。ButIhavenotgottotheendyet。Dr。Barnicotwasdueathissurgeryattwelveo’clock，andyoucanimaginehisamazementwhen，onarrivingthere，hefoundthatthewindowhadbeenopenedinthenight，andthatthebrokenpiecesofhissecondbustwerestrewnallovertheroom。
Ithadbeensmashedtoatomswhereitstood。Inneithercasewerethereanysignswhichcouldgiveusaclueastothecriminalorlunaticwhohaddonethemischief。Now，Mr。Holmes，youhavegotthefacts。"
"Theyaresingular，nottosaygrotesque，"saidHolmes。
"MayIaskwhetherthetwobustssmashedinDr。Barnicot’sroomsweretheexactduplicatesoftheonewhichwasdestroyedinMorseHudson’sshop？"
"Theyweretakenfromthesamemould。"
"SuchafactmusttellagainstthetheorythatthemanwhobreaksthemisinfluencedbyanygeneralhatredofNapoleon。
ConsideringhowmanyhundredsofstatuesofthegreatEmperormustexistinLondon，itistoomuchtosupposesuchacoincidenceasthatapromiscuousiconoclastshouldchancetobeginuponthreespecimensofthesamebust。"
"Well，Ithoughtasyoudo，"saidLestrade。"Ontheotherhand，thisMorseHudsonisthepurveyorofbustsinthatpartofLondon，andthesethreeweretheonlyoneswhichhadbeeninhisshopforyears。So，although，asyousay，therearemanyhundredsofstatuesinLondon，itisveryprobablethatthesethreeweretheonlyonesinthatdistrict。Therefore，alocalfanaticwouldbeginwiththem。Whatdoyouthink，Dr。Watson？"
"Therearenolimitstothepossibilitiesofmonomania，"
Ianswered。"ThereistheconditionwhichthemodernFrenchpsychologistshavecalledthe`ideefixe，’whichmaybetriflingincharacter，andaccompaniedbycompletesanityineveryotherway。AmanwhohadreaddeeplyaboutNapoleon，orwhohadpossiblyreceivedsomehereditaryfamilyinjurythroughthegreatwar，mightconceivablyformsuchan`ideefixe’andunderitsinfluencebecapableofanyfantasticoutrage。"
"Thatwon’tdo，mydearWatson，"saidHolmes，shakinghishead；
"fornoamountof`ideefixe’wouldenableyourinterestingmonomaniactofindoutwherethesebustsweresituated。"
"Well，howdoYOUexplainit？"
"Idon’tattempttodoso。Iwouldonlyobservethatthereisacertainmethodinthegentleman’seccentricproceedings。Forexample，inDr。Barnicot’shall，whereasoundmightarousethefamily，thebustwastakenoutsidebeforebeingbroken，whereasinthesurgery，wheretherewaslessdangerofanalarm，itwassmashedwhereitstood。Theaffairseemsabsurdlytrifling，andyetIdarecallnothingtrivialwhenIreflectthatsomeofmymostclassiccaseshavehadtheleastpromisingcommencement。
Youwillremember，Watson，howthedreadfulbusinessoftheAbernettyfamilywasfirstbroughttomynoticebythedepthwhichtheparsleyhadsunkintothebutteruponahotday。
Ican’tafford，therefore，tosmileatyourthreebrokenbusts，Lestrade，andIshallbeverymuchobligedtoyouifyouwillletmehearofanyfreshdevelopmentsofsosingularachainofevents。"
Thedevelopmentforwhichmyfriendhadaskedcameinaquickerandaninfinitelymoretragicformthanhecouldhaveimagined。
IwasstilldressinginmybedroomnextmorningwhentherewasatapatthedoorandHolmesentered，atelegraminhishand。
Hereaditaloud：——