"Comeinstantly，131，PittStreet，Kensington。——Lestrade。"
　　"Whatisit，then？"Iasked。
　　"Don’tknow——maybeanything。ButIsuspectitisthesequelofthestoryofthestatues。Inthatcaseourfriend，theimage—breaker，hasbegunoperationsinanotherquarterofLondon。There’scoffeeonthetable，Watson，andIhaveacabatthedoor。"
　　InhalfanhourwehadreachedPittStreet，aquietlittlebackwaterjustbesideoneofthebriskestcurrentsofLondonlife。No。131wasoneofarow，allflat—chested，respectable，andmostunromanticdwellings。Aswedroveupwefoundtherailingsinfrontofthehouselinedbyacuriouscrowd。
　　Holmeswhistled。
　　"ByGeorge！it’sattemptedmurderattheleast。NothinglesswillholdtheLondonmessage—boy。There’sadeedofviolenceindicatedinthatfellow’sroundshouldersandoutstretchedneck。What’sthis，Watson？Thetopstepsswilleddownandtheotheronesdry。Footstepsenough，anyhow！Well，well，there’sLestradeatthefrontwindow，andweshallsoonknowallaboutit。"
　　Theofficialreceiveduswithaverygravefaceandshowedusintoasitting—room，whereanexceedinglyunkemptandagitatedelderlyman，cladinaflanneldressing—gown，waspacingupanddown。Hewasintroducedtousastheownerofthehouse——
　　Mr。HoraceHarker，oftheCentralPressSyndicate。
　　"It’stheNapoleonbustbusinessagain，"saidLestrade。
　　"Youseemedinterestedlastnight，Mr。Holmes，soIthoughtperhapsyouwouldbegladtobepresentnowthattheaffairhastakenaverymuchgraverturn。"
　　"Whathasitturnedto，then？"
　　"Tomurder。Mr。Harker，willyoutellthesegentlemenexactlywhathasoccurred？"
　　Themaninthedressing—gownturneduponuswithamostmelancholyface。
　　"It’sanextraordinarything，"saidhe，"thatallmylifeIhavebeencollectingotherpeople’snews，andnowthatarealpieceofnewshascomemyownwayIamsoconfusedandbotheredthatIcan’tputtwowordstogether。IfIhadcomeinhereasajournalistIshouldhaveinterviewedmyselfandhadtwocolumnsineveryeveningpaper。AsitisIamgivingawayvaluablecopybytellingmystoryoverandovertoastringofdifferentpeople，andIcanmakenouseofitmyself。However，I’veheardyourname，Mr。SherlockHolmes，andifyou’llonlyexplainthisqueerbusinessIshallbepaidformytroubleintellingyouthestory。"
　　Holmessatdownandlistened。
　　"ItallseemstocentreroundthatbustofNapoleonwhichI
　　boughtforthisveryroomaboutfourmonthsago。IpickeditupcheapfromHardingBrothers，twodoorsfromtheHighStreetStation。Agreatdealofmyjournalisticworkisdoneatnight，andIoftenwriteuntiltheearlymorning。Soitwasto—day。
　　Iwassittinginmyden，whichisatthebackofthetopofthehouse，aboutthreeo’clock，whenIwasconvincedthatIheardsomesoundsdownstairs。Ilistened，buttheywerenotrepeated，andIconcludedthattheycamefromoutside。Thensuddenly，aboutfiveminuteslater，therecameamosthorribleyell——themostdreadfulsound，Mr。Holmes，thateverIheard。ItwillringinmyearsaslongasIlive。Isatfrozenwithhorrorforaminuteortwo。ThenIseizedthepokerandwentdownstairs。
　　WhenIenteredthisroomIfoundthewindowwideopen，andIatonceobservedthatthebustwasgonefromthemantelpiece。
　　Whyanyburglarshouldtakesuchathingpassesmyunderstanding，foritwasonlyaplastercastandofnorealvaluewhatever。
　　"Youcanseeforyourselfthatanyonegoingoutthroughthatopenwindowcouldreachthefrontdoorstepbytakingalongstride。Thiswasclearlywhattheburglarhaddone，soIwentroundandopenedthedoor。SteppingoutintothedarkInearlyfelloveradeadmanwhowaslyingthere。Iranbackforalight，andtherewasthepoorfellow，agreatgashinhisthroatandthewholeplaceswimminginblood。Helayonhisback，hiskneesdrawnup，andhismouthhorriblyopen。Ishallseehiminmydreams。Ihadjusttimetoblowonmypolice—whistle，andthenImusthavefainted，forIknewnothingmoreuntilIfoundthepolicemanstandingovermeinthehall。"
　　"Well，whowasthemurderedman？"askedHolmes。
　　"There’snothingtoshowwhohewas，"saidLestrade。"Youshallseethebodyatthemortuary，butwehavemadenothingofituptonow。Heisatallman，sunburned，verypowerful，notmorethanthirty。Heispoorlydressed，andyetdoesnotappeartobealabourer。Ahorn—handledclaspknifewaslyinginapoolofbloodbesidehim。Whetheritwastheweaponwhichdidthedeed，orwhetheritbelongedtothedeadman，Idonotknow。
　　Therewasnonameonhisclothing，andnothinginhispocketssaveanapple，somestring，ashillingmapofLondon，andaphotograph。Hereitis。"
　　Itwasevidentlytakenbyasnap—shotfromasmallcamera。
　　Itrepresentedanalert，sharp—featuredsimianmanwiththickeyebrows，andaverypeculiarprojectionofthelowerpartofthefacelikethemuzzleofababoon。
　　"Andwhatbecameofthebust？"askedHolmes，afteracarefulstudyofthispicture。
　　"Wehadnewsofitjustbeforeyoucame。IthasbeenfoundinthefrontgardenofanemptyhouseinCampdenHouseRoad。
　　Itwasbrokenintofragments。Iamgoingroundnowtoseeit。
　　Willyoucome？"
　　"Certainly。Imustjusttakeonelookround。"Heexaminedthecarpetandthewindow。"Thefellowhadeitherverylonglegsorwasamostactiveman，"saidhe。"Withanareabeneath，itwasnomeanfeattoreachthatwindow—ledgeandopenthatwindow。
　　Gettingbackwascomparativelysimple。Areyoucomingwithustoseetheremainsofyourbust，Mr。Harker？"
　　Thedisconsolatejournalisthadseatedhimselfatawriting—table。
　　"Imusttryandmakesomethingofit，"saidhe，"thoughIhavenodoubtthatthefirsteditionsoftheeveningpapersareoutalreadywithfulldetails。It’slikemyluck！YourememberwhenthestandfellatDoncaster？Well，Iwastheonlyjournalistinthestand，andmyjournaltheonlyonethathadnoaccountofit，forIwastooshakentowriteit。AndnowI’llbetoolatewithamurderdoneonmyowndoorstep。"
　　Aswelefttheroomweheardhispentravellingshrillyoverthefoolscap。
　　Thespotwherethefragmentsofthebusthadbeenfoundwasonlyafewhundredyardsaway。ForthefirsttimeoureyesresteduponthispresentmentofthegreatEmperor，whichseemedtoraisesuchfranticanddestructivehatredinthemindoftheunknown。Itlayscatteredinsplinteredshardsuponthegrass。Holmespickedupseveralofthemandexaminedthemcarefully。Iwasconvincedfromhisintentfaceandhispurposefulmannerthatatlasthewasuponaclue。
　　"Well？"askedLestrade。
　　Holmesshruggedhisshoulders。
　　"Wehavealongwaytogoyet，"saidhe。"Andyet——andyet——
　　well，wehavesomesuggestivefactstoactupon。Thepossessionofthistriflingbustwasworthmoreintheeyesofthisstrangecriminalthanahumanlife。Thatisonepoint。
　　Thenthereisthesingularfactthathedidnotbreakitinthehouse，orimmediatelyoutsidethehouse，iftobreakitwashissoleobject。"
　　"Hewasrattledandbustledbymeetingthisotherfellow。
　　Hehardlyknewwhathewasdoing。"
　　"Well，that’slikelyenough。ButIwishtocallyourattentionveryparticularlytothepositionofthishouseinthegardenofwhichthebustwasdestroyed。"
　　Lestradelookedabouthim。
　　"Itwasanemptyhouse，andsoheknewthathewouldnotbedisturbedinthegarden。"
　　"Yes，butthereisanotheremptyhousefartherupthestreetwhichhemusthavepassedbeforehecametothisone。Whydidhenotbreakitthere，sinceitisevidentthateveryyardthathecarrieditincreasedtheriskofsomeonemeetinghim？"
　　"Igiveitup，"saidLestrade。
　　Holmespointedtothestreetlampaboveourheads。
　　"Hecouldseewhathewasdoinghereandhecouldnotthere。
　　Thatwashisreason。"
　　"ByJove！that’strue，"saidthedetective。"NowthatIcometothinkofit，Dr。Barnicot’sbustwasbrokennotfarfromhisredlamp。Well，Mr。Holmes，whatarewetodowiththatfact？"
　　"Torememberit——todocketit。Wemaycomeonsomethinglaterwhichwillbearuponit。Whatstepsdoyouproposetotakenow，Lestrade？"
　　"Themostpracticalwayofgettingatit，inmyopinion，istoidentifythedeadman。Thereshouldbenodifficultyaboutthat。Whenwehavefoundwhoheisandwhohisassociatesare，weshouldhaveagoodstartinlearningwhathewasdoinginPittStreetlastnight，andwhoitwaswhomethimandkilledhimonthedoorstepofMr。HoraceHarker。Don’tyouthinkso？"
　　"Nodoubt；andyetitisnotquitethewayinwhichIshouldapproachthecase。"
　　"Whatwouldyoudo，then？"
　　"Oh，youmustnotletmeinfluenceyouinanyway！IsuggestthatyougoonyourlineandIonmine。Wecancomparenotesafterwards，andeachwillsupplementtheother。"
　　"Verygood，"saidLestrade。
　　"IfyouaregoingbacktoPittStreetyoumightseeMr。HoraceHarker。TellhimfrommethatIhavequitemadeupmymind，andthatitiscertainthatadangeroushomicidallunaticwithNapoleonicdelusionswasinhishouselastnight。Itwillbeusefulforhisarticle。"
　　Lestradestared。
　　"Youdon’tseriouslybelievethat？"
　　Holmessmiled。
　　"Don’tI？Well，perhapsIdon’t。ButIamsurethatitwillinterestMr。HoraceHarkerandthesubscribersoftheCentralPressSyndicate。Now，Watson，Ithinkthatweshallfindthatwehavealongandrathercomplexday’sworkbeforeus。
　　Ishouldbeglad，Lestrade，ifyoucouldmakeitconvenienttomeetusatBakerStreetatsixo’clockthisevening。UntilthenIshouldliketokeepthisphotographfoundinthedeadman’spocket。ItispossiblethatImayhavetoaskyourcompanyandassistanceuponasmallexpeditionwhichwillhavebeundertakento—night，ifmychainofreasoningshouldprovetobecorrect。
　　Untilthen，good—byeandgoodluck！"
　　SherlockHolmesandIwalkedtogethertotheHighStreet，wherehestoppedattheshopofHardingBrothers，whencethebusthadbeenpurchased。AyoungassistantinformedusthatMr。Hardingwouldbeabsentuntilafternoon，andthathewashimselfanewcomerwhocouldgiveusnoinformation。Holmes’sfaceshowedhisdisappointmentandannoyance。
　　"Well，well，wecan’texpecttohaveitallourownway，Watson，"hesaid，atlast。"WemustcomebackintheafternoonifMr。Hardingwillnotbehereuntilthen。Iam，asyouhavenodoubtsurmised，endeavouringtotracethesebuststotheirsource，inordertofindifthereisnotsomethingpeculiarwhichmayaccountfortheirremarkablefate。LetusmakeforMr。MorseHudson，oftheKenningtonRoad，andseeifhecanthrowanylightupontheproblem。"
　　Adriveofanhourbroughtustothepicture—dealer’sestablishment。Hewasasmall，stoutmanwitharedfaceandapepperymanner。
　　"Yes，sir。Onmyverycounter，sir，"saidhe。"WhatwepayratesandtaxesforIdon’tknow，whenanyruffiancancomeinandbreakone’sgoods。Yes，sir，itwasIwhosoldDr。Barnicothistwostatues。Disgraceful，sir！ANihilistplot，that’swhatImakeit。NoonebutanAnarchistwouldgoaboutbreakingstatues。Redrepublicans，that’swhatIcall’em。WhodidI
　　getthestatuesfrom？Idon’tseewhatthathastodowithit。
　　Well，ifyoureallywanttoknow，IgotthemfromGelderandCo。，inChurchStreet，Stepney。Theyareawell—knownhouseinthetrade，andhavebeenthistwentyyears。HowmanyhadI？
　　Three——twoandonearethree——twoofDr。Barnicot’sandonesmashedinbroaddaylightonmyowncounter。DoIknowthatphotograph？No，Idon’t。Yes，Ido，though。Why，it’sBeppo。
　　HewasakindofItalianpiece—workman，whomadehimselfusefulintheshop。Hecouldcarveabitandgildandframe，anddooddjobs。Thefellowleftmelastweek，andI’veheardnothingofhimsince。No，Idon’tknowwherehecamefromnorwherehewentto。Ihavenothingagainsthimwhilehewashere。Hewasgonetwodaysbeforethebustwassmashed。"
　　"Well，that’sallwecouldreasonablyexpecttogetfromMorseHudson，"saidHolmes，asweemergedfromtheshop。"WehavethisBeppoasacommonfactor，bothinKenningtonandinKensington，sothatisworthaten—miledrive。Now，Watson，letusmakeforGelderandCo。，ofStepney，thesourceandoriginofbusts。
　　Ishallbesurprisedifwedon’tgetsomehelpdownthere。"
　　InrapidsuccessionwepassedthroughthefringeoffashionableLondon，hotelLondon，theatricalLondon，literaryLondon，commercialLondon，and，finally，maritimeLondon，tillwecametoariversidecityofahundredthousandsouls，wherethetenementhousesswelterandreekwiththeoutcastsofEurope。
　　Here，inabroadthoroughfare，oncetheabodeofwealthyCitymerchants，wefoundthesculptureworksforwhichwesearched。
　　Outsidewasaconsiderableyardfullofmonumentalmasonry。
　　Insidewasalargeroominwhichfiftyworkerswerecarvingormoulding。Themanager，abigblondGerman，receiveduscivilly，andgaveaclearanswertoallHolmes’squestions。AreferencetohisbooksshowedthathundredsofcastshadbeentakenfromamarblecopyofDevine’sheadofNapoleon，butthatthethreewhichhadbeensenttoMorseHudsonayearorsobeforehadbeenhalfofabatchofsix，theotherthreebeingsenttoHardingBrothers，ofKensington。Therewasnoreasonwhythosesixshouldbedifferenttoanyoftheothercasts。Hecouldsuggestnopossiblecausewhyanyoneshouldwishtodestroythem——infact，helaughedattheidea。Theirwholesalepricewassixshillings，buttheretailerwouldgettwelveormore。
　　Thecastwastakenintwomouldsfromeachsideoftheface，andthenthesetwoprofilesofplasterofPariswerejoinedtogethertomakethecompletebust。TheworkwasusuallydonebyItaliansintheroomwewerein。Whenfinishedthebustswereputonatableinthepassagetodry，andafterwardsstored。
　　Thatwasallhecouldtellus。
　　Buttheproductionofthephotographhadaremarkableeffectuponthemanager。Hisfaceflushedwithanger，andhisbrowsknottedoverhisblueTeutoniceyes。
　　"Ah，therascal！"hecried。"Yes，indeed，Iknowhimverywell。
　　Thishasalwaysbeenarespectableestablishment，andtheonlytimethatwehaveeverhadthepoliceinitwasoverthisveryfellow。Itwasmorethanayearagonow。HeknifedanotherItalianinthestreet，andthenhecametotheworkswiththepoliceonhisheels，andhewastakenhere。Beppowashisname——hissecondnameIneverknew。Servemerightforengagingamanwithsuchaface。Buthewasagoodworkman，oneofthebest。"
　　"Whatdidheget？"
　　"Themanlivedandhegotoffwithayear。Ihavenodoubtheisoutnow；buthehasnotdaredtoshowhisnosehere。Wehaveacousinofhishere，andIdaresayhecouldtellyouwhereheis。"
　　"No，no，"criedHolmes，"notawordtothecousin——notaword，Ibegyou。Thematterisveryimportant，andthefartherIgowithitthemoreimportantitseemstogrow。WhenyoureferredinyourledgertothesaleofthosecastsIobservedthatthedatewasJune3rdoflastyear。CouldyougivemethedatewhenBeppowasarrested？"
　　"Icouldtellyouroughlybythepay—list，"themanageranswered。"Yes，"hecontinued，aftersometurningoverofpages，"hewaspaidlastonMay20th。"
　　"Thankyou，"saidHolmes。"Idon’tthinkthatIneedintrudeuponyourtimeandpatienceanymore。"Withalastwordofcautionthatheshouldsaynothingastoourresearchesweturnedourfaceswestwardoncemore。
　　Theafternoonwasfaradvancedbeforewewereabletosnatchahastyluncheonatarestaurant。Anews—billattheentranceannounced"KensingtonOutrage。MurderbyaMadman，"andthecontentsofthepapershowedthatMr。HoraceHarkerhadgothisaccountintoprintafterall。Twocolumnswereoccupiedwithahighlysensationalandfloweryrenderingofthewholeincident。
　　Holmesproppeditagainstthecruet—standandreaditwhileheate。
　　Onceortwicehechuckled。
　　"Thisisallright，Watson，"saidhe。"Listentothis：
　　`Itissatisfactorytoknowthattherecanbenodifferenceofopinionuponthiscase，sinceMr。Lestrade，oneofthemostexperiencedmembersoftheofficialforce，andMr。SherlockHolmes，thewell—knownconsultingexpert，haveeachcometotheconclusionthatthegrotesqueseriesofincidents，whichhaveendedinsotragicafashion，arisefromlunacyratherthanfromdeliberatecrime。Noexplanationsavementalaberrationcancoverthefacts。’ThePress，Watson，isamostvaluableinstitutionifyouonlyknowhowtouseit。Andnow，ifyouhavequitefinished，wewillharkbacktoKensingtonandseewhatthemanagerofHardingBrothershastosaytothematter。"
　　Thefounderofthatgreatemporiumprovedtobeabrisk，crisplittleperson，verydapperandquick，withaclearheadandareadytongue。
　　"Yes，sir，Ihavealreadyreadtheaccountintheeveningpapers。Mr。HoraceHarkerisacustomerofours。Wesuppliedhimwiththebustsomemonthsago。WeorderedthreebustsofthatsortfromGelderandCo。，ofStepney。Theyareallsoldnow。
　　Towhom？Oh，Idaresaybyconsultingoursalesbookwecouldveryeasilytellyou。Yes，wehavetheentrieshere。OnetoMr。Harker，yousee，andonetoMr。JosiahBrown，ofLaburnumLodge，LaburnumVale，Chiswick，andonetoMr。Sandeford，ofLowerGroveRoad，Reading。No，Ihaveneverseenthisfacewhichyoushowmeinthephotograph。Youwouldhardlyforgetit，wouldyou，sir，forI’veseldomseenanuglier。HaveweanyItaliansonthestaff？Yes，sir，wehaveseveralamongourworkpeopleandcleaners。Idaresaytheymightgetapeepatthatsalesbookiftheywantedto。Thereisnoparticularreasonforkeepingawatchuponthatbook。Well，well，it’saverystrangebusiness，andIhopethatyou’llletmeknowifanythingcomesofyourinquiries。"
　　HolmeshadtakenseveralnotesduringMr。Harding’sevidence，andIcouldseethathewasthoroughlysatisfiedbytheturnwhichaffairsweretaking。Hemadenoremark，however，savethat，unlesswehurried，weshouldbelateforourappointmentwithLestrade。Sureenough，whenwereachedBakerStreetthedetectivewasalreadythere，andwefoundhimpacingupanddowninafeverofimpatience。Hislookofimportanceshowedthathisday’sworkhadnotbeeninvain。
　　"Well？"heasked。"Whatluck，Mr。Holmes？"
　　"Wehavehadaverybusyday，andnotentirelyawastedone，"
　　myfriendexplained。"Wehaveseenboththeretailersandalsothewholesalemanufacturers。Icantraceeachofthebustsnowfromthebeginning。"
　　"Thebusts！"criedLestrade。"Well，well，youhaveyourownmethods，Mr。SherlockHolmes，anditisnotformetosayawordagainstthem，butIthinkIhavedoneabetterday’sworkthanyou。Ihaveidentifiedthedeadman。"
　　"Youdon’tsayso？"
　　"Andfoundacauseforthecrime。"
　　"Splendid！"
　　"WehaveaninspectorwhomakesaspecialtyofSaffronHillandtheItalianquarter。Well，thisdeadmanhadsomeCatholicemblemroundhisneck，andthat，alongwithhiscolour，mademethinkhewasfromtheSouth。InspectorHillknewhimthemomenthecaughtsightofhim。HisnameisPietroVenucci，fromNaples，andheisoneofthegreatestcut—throatsinLondon。
　　HeisconnectedwiththeMafia，which，asyouknow，isasecretpoliticalsociety，enforcingitsdecreesbymurder。Nowyouseehowtheaffairbeginstoclearup。TheotherfellowisprobablyanItalianalso，andamemberoftheMafia。Hehasbrokentherulesinsomefashion。Pietroissetuponhistrack。
　　Probablythephotographwefoundinhispocketisthemanhimself，sothathemaynotknifethewrongperson。Hedogsthefellow，heseeshimenterahouse，hewaitsoutsideforhim，andinthescufflehereceiveshisowndeath—wound。Howisthat，Mr。SherlockHolmes？"
　　Holmesclappedhishandsapprovingly。
　　"Excellent，Lestrade，excellent！"hecried。"ButIdidn’tquitefollowyourexplanationofthedestructionofthebusts。"
　　"Thebusts！Younevercangetthosebustsoutofyourhead。
　　Afterall，thatisnothing；pettylarceny，sixmonthsatthemost。
　　Itisthemurderthatwearereallyinvestigating，andItellyouthatIamgatheringallthethreadsintomyhands。"
　　"Andthenextstage？"
　　"Isaverysimpleone。IshallgodownwithHilltotheItalianquarter，findthemanwhosephotographwehavegot，andarresthimonthechargeofmurder。Willyoucomewithus？"
　　"Ithinknot。Ifancywecanattainourendinasimplerway。
　　Ican’tsayforcertain，becauseitalldepends——well，italldependsuponafactorwhichiscompletelyoutsideourcontrol。
　　ButIhavegreathopes——infact，thebettingisexactlytwotoone——thatifyouwillcomewithusto—nightIshallbeabletohelpyoutolayhimbytheheels。"
　　"IntheItalianquarter？"
　　"No；IfancyChiswickisanaddresswhichismorelikelytofindhim。IfyouwillcomewithmetoChiswickto—night，Lestrade，I’llpromisetogototheItalianquarterwithyouto—morrow，andnoharmwillbedonebythedelay。AndnowIthinkthatafewhours’sleepwoulddousallgood，forIdonotproposetoleavebeforeeleveno’clock，anditisunlikelythatweshallbebackbeforemorning。You’lldinewithus，Lestrade，andthenyouarewelcometothesofauntilitistimeforustostart。
　　Inthemeantime，Watson，Ishouldbegladifyouwouldringforanexpressmessenger，forIhavealettertosend，anditisimportantthatitshouldgoatonce。"
　　Holmesspenttheeveninginrummagingamongthefilesoftheolddailypaperswithwhichoneofourlumber—roomswaspacked。
　　Whenatlasthedescendeditwaswithtriumphinhiseyes，buthesaidnothingtoeitherofusastotheresultofhisresearches。Formyownpart，Ihadfollowedstepbystepthemethodsbywhichhehadtracedthevariouswindingsofthiscomplexcase，and，thoughIcouldnotyetperceivethegoalwhichwewouldreach，IunderstoodclearlythatHolmesexpectedthisgrotesquecriminaltomakeanattemptuponthetworemainingbusts，oneofwhich，Iremembered，wasatChiswick。
　　Nodoubttheobjectofourjourneywastocatchhimintheveryact，andIcouldnotbutadmirethecunningwithwhichmyfriendhadinsertedawrongclueintheeveningpaper，soastogivethefellowtheideathathecouldcontinuehisschemewithimpunity。IwasnotsurprisedwhenHolmessuggestedthatIshouldtakemyrevolverwithme。Hehadhimselfpickeduptheloadedhunting—cropwhichwashisfavouriteweapon。
　　Afour—wheelerwasatthedoorateleven，andinitwedrovetoaspotattheothersideofHammersmithBridge。Herethecabmanwasdirectedtowait。Ashortwalkbroughtustoasecludedroadfringedwithpleasanthouses，eachstandinginitsowngrounds。Inthelightofastreetlampweread"LaburnumVilla"
　　uponthegate—postofoneofthem。Theoccupantshadevidentlyretiredtorest，forallwasdarksaveforafanlightoverthehalldoor，whichshedasingleblurredcircleontothegardenpath。Thewoodenfencewhichseparatedthegroundsfromtheroadthrewadenseblackshadowupontheinnerside，andhereitwasthatwecrouched。
　　"Ifearthatyou’llhavealongwait，"Holmeswhispered。
　　"Wemaythankourstarsthatitisnotraining。Idon’tthinkwecanevenventuretosmoketopassthetime。However，it’satwotoonechancethatwegetsomethingtopayusforourtrouble。"
　　Itproved，however，thatourvigilwasnottobesolongasHolmeshadledustofear，anditendedinaverysuddenandsingularfashion。Inaninstant，withouttheleastsoundtowarnusofhiscoming，thegardengateswungopen，andalithe，darkfigure，asswiftandactiveasanape，rushedupthegardenpath。Wesawitwhiskpastthelightthrownfromoverthedooranddisappearagainsttheblackshadowofthehouse。Therewasalongpause，duringwhichweheldourbreath，andthenaverygentlecreakingsoundcametoourears。Thewindowwasbeingopened。Thenoiseceased，andagaintherewasalongsilence。
　　Thefellowwasmakinghiswayintothehouse。Wesawthesuddenflashofadarklanterninsidetheroom。Whathesoughtwasevidentlynotthere，foragainwesawtheflashthroughanotherblind，andthenthroughanother。
　　"Letusgettotheopenwindow。Wewillnabhimasheclimbsout，"
　　Lestradewhispered。
　　Butbeforewecouldmovethemanhademergedagain。Ashecameoutintotheglimmeringpatchoflightwesawthathecarriedsomethingwhiteunderhisarm。Helookedstealthilyallroundhim。Thesilenceofthedesertedstreetreassuredhim。Turninghisbackuponushelaiddownhisburden，andthenextinstanttherewasthesoundofasharptap，followedbyaclatterandrattle。Themanwassointentuponwhathewasdoingthatheneverheardourstepsaswestoleacrossthegrassplot。WiththeboundofatigerHolmeswasonhisback，andaninstantlaterLestradeandIhadhimbyeitherwristandthehandcuffshadbeenfastened。AsweturnedhimoverIsawahideous，sallowface，withwrithing，furiousfeatures，glaringupatus，andIknewthatitwasindeedthemanofthephotographwhomwehadsecured。
　　ButitwasnotourprisonertowhomHolmeswasgivinghisattention。Squattedonthedoorstep，hewasengagedinmostcarefullyexaminingthatwhichthemanhadbroughtfromthehouse。ItwasabustofNapoleonliketheonewhichwehadseenthatmorning，andithadbeenbrokenintosimilarfragments。CarefullyHolmesheldeachseparateshardtothelight，butinnowaydiditdifferfromanyothershatteredpieceofplaster。Hehadjustcompletedhisexaminationwhenthehalllightsflewup，thedooropened，andtheownerofthehouse，ajovial，rotundfigureinshirtandtrousers，presentedhimself。
　　"Mr。JosiahBrown，Isuppose？"saidHolmes。
　　"Yes，sir；andyou，nodoubt，areMr。SherlockHolmes？Ihadthenotewhichyousentbytheexpressmessenger，andIdidexactlywhatyoutoldme。Welockedeverydoorontheinsideandawaiteddevelopments。Well，I’mverygladtoseethatyouhavegottherascal。Ihope，gentlemen，thatyouwillcomeinandhavesomerefreshment。"
　　However，Lestradewasanxioustogethismanintosafequarters，sowithinafewminutesourcabhadbeensummonedandwewereallfouruponourwaytoLondon。Notawordwouldourcaptivesay；butheglaredatusfromtheshadowofhismattedhair，andonce，whenmyhandseemedwithinhisreach，hesnappedatitlikeahungrywolf。Westayedlongenoughatthepolice—stationtolearnthatasearchofhisclothingrevealednothingsaveafewshillingsandalongsheathknife，thehandleofwhichborecopioustracesofrecentblood。
　　"That’sallright，"saidLestrade，asweparted。"Hillknowsallthesegentry，andhewillgiveanametohim。You’llfindthatmytheoryoftheMafiawillworkoutallright。ButI’msureIamexceedinglyobligedtoyou，Mr。Holmes，fortheworkmanlikewayinwhichyoulaidhandsuponhim。Idon’tquiteunderstanditallyet。"