"Haveyouanyreasontosuspectanyoneofthemmorethantheothers？"
　　Soameshesitated。
　　"Itisaverydelicatequestion，"saidhe。"Onehardlylikestothrowsuspicionwheretherearenoproofs。"
　　"Letushearthesuspicions。Iwilllookaftertheproofs。"
　　"Iwilltellyou，then，inafewwordsthecharacterofthethreemenwhoinhabittheserooms。ThelowerofthethreeisGilchrist，afinescholarandathlete；playsintheRugbyteamandthecricketteamforthecollege，andgothisBlueforthehurdlesandthelongjump。Heisafine，manlyfellow。HisfatherwasthenotoriousSirJabezGilchrist，whoruinedhimselfontheturf。Myscholarhasbeenleftverypoor，butheishard—workingandindustrious。Hewilldowell。
　　"ThesecondfloorisinhabitedbyDaulatRas，theIndian。
　　Heisaquiet，inscrutablefellow，asmostofthoseIndiansare。
　　Heiswellupinhiswork，thoughhisGreekishisweaksubject。
　　Heissteadyandmethodical。
　　"ThetopfloorbelongstoMilesMcLaren。Heisabrilliantfellowwhenhechoosestowork——oneofthebrightestintellectsoftheUniversity，butheiswayward，dissipated，andunprincipled。Hewasnearlyexpelledoveracardscandalinhisfirstyear。Hehasbeenidlingallthisterm，andhemustlookforwardwithdreadtotheexamination。"
　　"Thenitishewhomyoususpect？"
　　"Idarenotgosofarasthat。Butofthethreeheisperhapstheleastunlikely。"
　　"Exactly。Now，Mr。Soames，letushavealookatyourservant，Bannister。"
　　Hewasalittle，white—faced，clean—shaven，grizzly—hairedfellowoffifty。Hewasstillsufferingfromthissuddendisturbanceofthequietroutineofhislife。Hisplumpfacewastwitchingwithhisnervousness，andhisfingerscouldnotkeepstill。
　　"Weareinvestigatingthisunhappybusiness，Bannister，"
　　saidhismaster。
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Iunderstand，"saidHolmes，"thatyouleftyourkeyinthedoor？"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Wasitnotveryextraordinarythatyoushoulddothisontheverydaywhentherewerethesepapersinside？"
　　"Itwasmostunfortunate，sir。ButIhaveoccasionallydonethesamethingatothertimes。"
　　"Whendidyouentertheroom？"
　　"Itwasabouthalf—pastfour。ThatisMr。Soames’steatime。"
　　"Howlongdidyoustay？"
　　"WhenIsawthathewasabsentIwithdrewatonce。"
　　"Didyoulookatthesepapersonthetable？"
　　"No，sir；certainlynot。"
　　"Howcameyoutoleavethekeyinthedoor？"
　　"Ihadthetea—trayinmyhand。IthoughtIwouldcomebackforthekey。ThenIforgot。"
　　"Hastheouterdooraspringlock？"
　　"No，sir。"
　　"Thenitwasopenallthetime？"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Anyoneintheroomcouldgetout？"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"WhenMr。Soamesreturnedandcalledforyou，youwereverymuchdisturbed？"
　　"Yes，sir。SuchathinghasneverhappenedduringthemanyyearsthatIhavebeenhere。Inearlyfainted，sir。"
　　"SoIunderstand。Wherewereyouwhenyoubegantofeelbad？"
　　"WherewasI，sir？Why，here，nearthedoor。"
　　"Thatissingular，becauseyousatdowninthatchairoveryondernearthecorner。Whydidyoupasstheseotherchairs？"
　　"Idon’tknow，sir。Itdidn’tmattertomewhereIsat。"
　　"Ireallydon’tthinkheknewmuchaboutit，Mr。Holmes。
　　Hewaslookingverybad——quiteghastly。"
　　"Youstayedherewhenyourmasterleft？"
　　"Onlyforaminuteorso。ThenIlockedthedoorandwenttomyroom。"
　　"Whomdoyoususpect？"
　　"Oh，Iwouldnotventuretosay，sir。Idon’tbelievethereisanygentlemaninthisUniversitywhoiscapableofprofitingbysuchanaction。No，sir，I’llnotbelieveit。"
　　"Thankyou；thatwilldo，"saidHolmes。"Oh，onemoreword。
　　Youhavenotmentionedtoanyofthethreegentlemenwhomyouattendthatanythingisamiss？"
　　"No，sir；notaword。"
　　"Youhaven’tseenanyofthem？"
　　"No，sir。"
　　"Verygood。Now，Mr。Soames，wewilltakeawalkinthequadrangle，ifyouplease。"
　　Threeyellowsquaresoflightshoneaboveusinthegatheringgloom。"
　　"Yourthreebirdsareallintheirnests，"saidHolmes，lookingup。
　　"Halloa！What’sthat？Oneofthemseemsrestlessenough。"
　　ItwastheIndian，whosedarksilhouetteappearedsuddenlyuponhisblind。Hewaspacingswiftlyupanddownhisroom。
　　"Ishouldliketohaveapeepateachofthem，"saidHolmes。
　　"Isitpossible？"
　　"Nodifficultyintheworld，"Soamesanswered。"Thissetofroomsisquitetheoldestinthecollege，anditisnotunusualforvisitorstogooverthem。Comealong，andIwillpersonallyconductyou。"
　　"Nonames，please！"saidHolmes，asweknockedatGilchrist’sdoor。Atall，flaxen—haired，slimyoungfellowopenedit，andmadeuswelcomewhenheunderstoodourerrand。Thereweresomereallycuriouspiecesofmediaevaldomesticarchitecturewithin。
　　Holmeswassocharmedwithoneofthemthatheinsistedondrawingitonhisnote—book，brokehispencil，hadtoborrowonefromourhost，andfinallyborrowedaknifetosharpenhisown。
　　ThesamecuriousaccidenthappenedtohimintheroomsoftheIndian——asilent，little，hook—nosedfellow，whoeyedusaskanceandwasobviouslygladwhenHolmes’sarchitecturalstudieshadcometoanend。IcouldnotseethatineithercaseHolmeshadcomeupontheclueforwhichhewassearching。
　　Onlyatthethirddidourvisitproveabortive。Theouterdoorwouldnotopentoourknock，andnothingmoresubstantialthanatorrentofbadlanguagecamefrombehindit。"Idon’tcarewhoyouare。Youcangotoblazes！"roaredtheangryvoice。
　　"To—morrow’stheexam，andIwon’tbedrawnbyanyone。"
　　"Arudefellow，"saidourguide，flushingwithangeraswewithdrewdownthestair。"Ofcourse，hedidnotrealizethatitwasIwhowasknocking，butnonethelesshisconductwasveryuncourteous，and，indeed，underthecircumstancesrathersuspicious。"
　　Holmes’sresponsewasacuriousone。
　　"Canyoutellmehisexactheight？"heasked。
　　"Really，Mr。Holmes，Icannotundertaketosay。HeistallerthantheIndian，notsotallasGilchrist。Isupposefivefootsixwouldbeaboutit。"
　　"Thatisveryimportant，"saidHolmes。"Andnow，Mr。Soames，Iwishyougood—night。"
　　Ourguidecriedaloudinhisastonishmentanddismay。"Goodgracious，Mr。Holmes，youaresurelynotgoingtoleavemeinthisabruptfashion！Youdon’tseemtorealizetheposition。
　　To—morrowistheexamination。Imusttakesomedefiniteactionto—night。Icannotallowtheexaminationtobeheldifoneofthepapershasbeentamperedwith。Thesituationmustbefaced。"
　　"Youmustleaveitasitis。Ishalldroproundearlyto—morrowmorningandchatthematterover。ItispossiblethatImaybeinapositionthentoindicatesomecourseofaction。
　　Meanwhileyouchangenothing——nothingatall。"
　　"Verygood，Mr。Holmes。"
　　"Youcanbeperfectlyeasyinyourmind。Weshallcertainlyfindsomewayoutofyourdifficulties。Iwilltaketheblackclaywithme，alsothepencilcuttings。Good—bye。"
　　Whenwewereoutinthedarknessofthequadrangleweagainlookedupatthewindows。TheIndianstillpacedhisroom。
　　Theotherswereinvisible。
　　"Well，Watson，whatdoyouthinkofit？"Holmesasked，aswecameoutintothemainstreet。"Quitealittleparlourgame——
　　sortofthree—cardtrick，isitnot？Thereareyourthreemen。
　　Itmustbeoneofthem。Youtakeyourchoice。Whichisyours？"
　　"Thefoul—mouthedfellowatthetop。Heistheonewiththeworstrecord。AndyetthatIndianwasaslyfellowalso。
　　Whyshouldhebepacinghisroomallthetime？"
　　"Thereisnothinginthat。Manymendoitwhentheyaretryingtolearnanythingbyheart。"
　　"Helookedatusinaqueerway。"
　　"Sowouldyouifaflockofstrangerscameinonyouwhenyouwerepreparingforanexaminationnextday，andeverymomentwasofvalue。No，Iseenothinginthat。Pencils，too，andknives——allwassatisfactory。ButthatfellowDOESpuzzleme。"
　　"Who？"
　　"Why，Bannister，theservant。What’shisgameinthematter？"
　　"Heimpressedmeasbeingaperfectlyhonestman。"
　　"Sohedidme。That’sthepuzzlingpart。Whyshouldaperfectlyhonestman——well，well，here’salargestationer’s。
　　Weshallbeginourresearcheshere。"
　　Therewereonlyfourstationersofanyconsequenceinthetown，andateachHolmesproducedhispencilchipsandbidhighforaduplicate。Allwereagreedthatonecouldbeordered，butthatitwasnotausualsizeofpencilandthatitwasseldomkeptinstock。Myfrienddidnotappeartobedepressedbyhisfailure，butshruggedhisshouldersinhalf—humorousresignation。
　　"Nogood，mydearWatson。This，thebestandonlyfinalclue，hasruntonothing。But，indeed，Ihavelittledoubtthatwecanbuildupasufficientcasewithoutit。ByJove！mydearfellow，itisnearlynine，andthelandladybabbledofgreenpeasatseven—thirty。Whatwithyoureternaltobacco，Watson，andyourirregularityatmeals，IexpectthatyouwillgetnoticetoquitandthatIshallshareyourdownfall——not，however，beforewehavesolvedtheproblemofthenervoustutor，thecarelessservant，andthethreeenterprisingstudents。"
　　Holmesmadenofurtherallusiontothematterthatday，thoughhesatlostinthoughtforalongtimeafterourbelateddinner。
　　AteightinthemorninghecameintomyroomjustasIfinishedmytoilet。
　　"Well，Watson，"saidhe，"itistimewewentdowntoSt。Luke’s。
　　Canyoudowithoutbreakfast？"
　　"Certainly。"
　　"Soameswillbeinadreadfulfidgetuntilweareabletotellhimsomethingpositive。"
　　"Haveyouanythingpositivetotellhim？"
　　"Ithinkso。"
　　"Youhaveformedaconclusion？"
　　"Yes，mydearWatson；Ihavesolvedthemystery。"
　　"Butwhatfreshevidencecouldyouhavegot？"
　　"Aha！ItisnotfornothingthatIhaveturnedmyselfoutofbedattheuntimelyhourofsix。Ihaveputintwohours’
　　hardworkandcoveredatleastfivemiles，withsomethingtoshowforit。Lookatthat！"
　　Heheldouthishand。Onthepalmwerethreelittlepyramidsofblack，doughyclay。
　　"Why，Holmes，youhadonlytwoyesterday！"
　　"Andonemorethismorning。ItisafairargumentthatwhereverNo。3camefromisalsothesourceofNos。1and2。Eh，Watson？
　　Well，comealongandputfriendSoamesoutofhispain。"
　　Theunfortunatetutorwascertainlyinastateofpitiableagitationwhenwefoundhiminhischambers。Inafewhourstheexaminationwouldcommence，andhewasstillinthedilemmabetweenmakingthefactspublicandallowingtheculprittocompeteforthevaluablescholarship。Hecouldhardlystandstill，sogreatwashismentalagitation，andherantowardsHolmeswithtwoeagerhandsoutstretched。
　　"ThankHeaventhatyouhavecome！Ifearedthatyouhadgivenitupindespair。WhatamItodo？Shalltheexaminationproceed？"
　　"Yes；letitproceedbyallmeans。"
　　"Butthisrascal————？"
　　"Heshallnotcompete。"
　　"Youknowhim？"
　　"Ithinkso。Ifthismatterisnottobecomepublicwemustgiveourselvescertainpowers，andresolveourselvesintoasmallprivatecourt—martial。Youthere，ifyouplease，Soames！Watson，youhere！I’lltakethearm—chairinthemiddle。Ithinkthatwearenowsufficientlyimposingtostriketerrorintoaguiltybreast。Kindlyringthebell！"
　　Bannisterentered，andshrunkbackinevidentsurpriseandfearatourjudicialappearance。
　　"Youwillkindlyclosethedoor，"saidHolmes。"Now，Bannister，willyoupleasetellusthetruthaboutyesterday’sincident？"
　　Themanturnedwhitetotherootsofhishair。
　　"Ihavetoldyoueverything，sir。"
　　"Nothingtoadd？"
　　"Nothingatall，sir。"
　　"Well，then，Imustmakesomesuggestionstoyou。Whenyousatdownonthatchairyesterday，didyoudosoinordertoconcealsomeobjectwhichwouldhaveshownwhohadbeenintheroom？"
　　Bannister’sfacewasghastly。
　　"No，sir；certainlynot。"
　　"Itisonlyasuggestion，"saidHolmes，suavely。"IfranklyadmitthatIamunabletoproveit。Butitseemsprobableenough，sincethemomentthatMr。Soames’sbackwasturnedyoureleasedthemanwhowashidinginthatbedroom。"
　　Bannisterlickedhisdrylips。
　　"Therewasnoman，sir。"
　　"Ah，that’sapity，Bannister。Uptonowyoumayhavespokenthetruth，butnowIknowthatyouhavelied。"
　　Theman’sfacesetinsullendefiance。
　　"Therewasnoman，sir。"
　　"Come，come，Bannister！"
　　"No，sir；therewasnoone。"
　　"Inthatcaseyoucangiveusnofurtherinformation。
　　Wouldyoupleaseremainintheroom？Standovertherenearthebedroomdoor。Now，Soames，IamgoingtoaskyoutohavethegreatkindnesstogouptotheroomofyoungGilchrist，andtoaskhimtostepdownintoyours。"
　　Aninstantlaterthetutorreturned，bringingwithhimthestudent。Hewasafinefigureofaman，tall，lithe，andagile，withaspringystepandapleasant，openface。Histroubledblueeyesglancedateachofus，andfinallyrestedwithanexpressionofblankdismayuponBannisterinthefarthercorner。
　　"Justclosethedoor，"saidHolmes。"Now，Mr。Gilchrist，weareallquitealonehere，andnooneneedeverknowonewordofwhatpassesbetweenus。Wecanbeperfectlyfrankwitheachother。Wewanttoknow，Mr。Gilchrist，howyou，anhonourableman，evercametocommitsuchanactionasthatofyesterday？"
　　TheunfortunateyoungmanstaggeredbackandcastalookfullofhorrorandreproachatBannister。
　　"No，no，Mr。Gilchrist，sir；Ineversaidaword——neveroneword！"criedtheservant。
　　"No，butyouhavenow，"saidHolmes。"Now，sir，youmustseethatafterBannister’swordsyourpositionishopeless，andthatyouronlychanceliesinafrankconfession。"
　　ForamomentGilchrist，withupraisedhand，triedtocontrolhiswrithingfeatures。Thenexthehadthrownhimselfonhiskneesbesidethetableand，buryinghisfaceinhishands，hehadburstintoastormofpassionatesobbing。
　　"Come，come，"saidHolmes，kindly；"itishumantoerr，andatleastnoonecanaccuseyouofbeingacallouscriminal。
　　PerhapsitwouldbeeasierforyouifIweretotellMr。Soameswhatoccurred，andyoucancheckmewhereIamwrong。ShallI
　　doso？Well，well，don’ttroubletoanswer。Listen，andseethatIdoyounoinjustice。
　　"Fromthemoment，Mr。Soames，thatyousaidtomethatnoone，notevenBannister，couldhavetoldthatthepaperswereinyourroom，thecasebegantotakeadefiniteshapeinmymind。
　　Theprinteronecould，ofcourse，dismiss。Hecouldexaminethepapersinhisownoffice。TheIndianIalsothoughtnothingof。
　　Iftheproofswereinarollhecouldnotpossiblyknowwhattheywere。Ontheotherhand，itseemedanunthinkablecoincidencethatamanshoulddaretoentertheroom，andthatbychanceonthatverydaythepaperswereonthetable。Idismissedthat。
　　Themanwhoenteredknewthatthepaperswerethere。Howdidheknow？
　　"WhenIapproachedyourroomIexaminedthewindow。YouamusedmebysupposingthatIwascontemplatingthepossibilityofsomeonehavinginbroaddaylight，undertheeyesofalltheseoppositerooms，forcedhimselfthroughit。Suchanideawasabsurd。Iwasmeasuringhowtallamanwouldneedtobeinordertoseeashepassedwhatpaperswereonthecentraltable。Iamsixfeethigh，andIcoulddoitwithaneffort。Noonelessthanthatwouldhaveachance。AlreadyyouseeIhadreasontothinkthatifoneofyourthreestudentswasamanofunusualheighthewasthemostworthwatchingofthethree。
　　"IenteredandItookyouintomyconfidenceastothesuggestionsofthesidetable。OfthecentretableIcouldmakenothing，untilinyourdescriptionofGilchristyoumentionedthathewasalong—distancejumper。Thenthewholethingcametomeinaninstant，andIonlyneededcertaincorroborativeproofs，whichIspeedilyobtained。
　　"Whathappenedwasthis。Thisyoungfellowhademployedhisafternoonattheathleticgrounds，wherehehadbeenpractisingthejump。Hereturnedcarryinghisjumpingshoes，whichareprovided，asyouareaware，withseveralsharpspikes。Ashepassedyourwindowhesaw，bymeansofhisgreatheight，theseproofsuponyourtable，andconjecturedwhattheywere。Noharmwouldhavebeendonehaditnotbeenthatashepassedyourdoorheperceivedthekeywhichhadbeenleftbythecarelessnessofyourservant。Asuddenimpulsecameoverhimtoenterandseeiftheywereindeedtheproofs。Itwasnotadangerousexploit，forhecouldalwayspretendthathehadsimplylookedintoaskaquestion。
　　"Well，whenhesawthattheywereindeedtheproofs，itwasthenthatheyieldedtotemptation。Heputhisshoesonthetable。Whatwasityouputonthatchairnearthewindow？"
　　"Gloves，"saidtheyoungman。
　　HolmeslookedtriumphantlyatBannister。"Heputhisglovesonthechair，andhetooktheproofs，sheetbysheet，tocopythem。
　　Hethoughtthetutormustreturnbythemaingate，andthathewouldseehim。Asweknow，hecamebackbythesidegate。
　　Suddenlyheheardhimattheverydoor。Therewasnopossibleescape。Heforgothisgloves，buthecaughtuphisshoesanddartedintothebedroom。Youobservethatthescratchonthattableisslightatoneside，butdeepensinthedirectionofthebedroomdoor。Thatinitselfisenoughtoshowusthattheshoehadbeendrawninthatdirectionandthattheculprithadtakenrefugethere。Theearthroundthespikehadbeenleftonthetable，andasecondsamplewasloosenedandfellinthebedroom。
　　ImayaddthatIwalkedouttotheathleticgroundsthismorning，sawthattenaciousblackclayisusedinthejumping—pit，andcarriedawayaspecimenofit，togetherwithsomeofthefinetanorsawdustwhichisstrewnoverittopreventtheathletefromslipping。HaveItoldthetruth，Mr。Gilchrist？"
　　Thestudenthaddrawnhimselferect。
　　"Yes，sir，itistrue，"saidhe。
　　"Goodheavens，haveyounothingtoadd？"criedSoames。
　　"Yes，sir，Ihave，buttheshockofthisdisgracefulexposurehasbewilderedme。Ihavealetterhere，Mr。Soames，whichIwrotetoyouearlythismorninginthemiddleofarestlessnight。
　　ItwasbeforeIknewthatmysinhadfoundmeout。Hereitis，sir。YouwillseethatIhavesaid，`Ihavedeterminednottogoinfortheexamination。IhavebeenofferedacommissionintheRhodesianPolice，andIamgoingouttoSouthAfricaatonce。"’
　　"Iamindeedpleasedtohearthatyoudidnotintendtoprofitbyyourunfairadvantage，"saidSoames。"Butwhydidyouchangeyourpurpose？"
　　GilchristpointedtoBannister。
　　"Thereisthemanwhosetmeintherightpath，"saidhe。
　　"Comenow，Bannister，"saidHolmes。"ItwillbecleartoyoufromwhatIhavesaidthatonlyyoucouldhaveletthisyoungmanout，sinceyouwereleftintheroom，andmusthavelockedthedoorwhenyouwentout。Astohisescapingbythatwindow，itwasincredible。Canyounotclearupthelastpointinthismystery，andtellusthereasonsforyouraction？"
　　"Itwassimpleenough，sir，ifyouonlyhadknown；butwithallyourclevernessitwasimpossiblethatyoucouldknow。Timewas，sir，whenIwasbutlertooldSirJabezGilchrist，thisyounggentleman’sfather。WhenhewasruinedIcametothecollegeasservant，butIneverforgotmyoldemployerbecausehewasdownintheworld。IwatchedhissonallIcouldforthesakeoftheolddays。Well，sir，whenIcameintothisroomyesterdaywhenthealarmwasgiven，theveryfirstthingIsawwasMr。Gilchrist’stanglovesa—lyinginthatchair。Iknewthosegloveswell，andIunderstoodtheirmessage。IfMr。Soamessawthemthegamewasup。Ifloppeddownintothatchair，andnothingwouldbudgemeuntilMr。Soameshewentforyou。Thenoutcamemypooryoungmaster，whomIhaddandledonmyknee，andconfesseditalltome。
　　Wasn’titnatural，sir，thatIshouldsavehim，andwasn’titnaturalalsothatIshouldtrytospeaktohimashisdeadfatherwouldhavedone，andmakehimunderstandthathecouldnotprofitbysuchadeed？Couldyoublameme，sir？"
　　"No，indeed，"saidHolmes，heartily，springingtohisfeet。
　　"Well，Soames，Ithinkwehaveclearedyourlittleproblemup，andourbreakfastawaitsusathome。Come，Watson！Astoyou，sir，ItrustthatabrightfutureawaitsyouinRhodesia。Foronceyouhavefallenlow。Letusseeinthefuturehowhighyoucanrise。"
　　X。———TheAdventureoftheGoldenPince—Nez。
　　WHENIlookatthethreemassivemanuscriptvolumeswhichcontainourworkfortheyear1894Iconfessthatitisverydifficultforme，outofsuchawealthofmaterial，toselectthecaseswhicharemostinterestinginthemselvesandatthesametimemostconducivetoadisplayofthosepeculiarpowersforwhichmyfriendwasfamous。AsIturnoverthepagesIseemynotesupontherepulsivestoryoftheredleechandtheterribledeathofCrosbythebanker。HerealsoIfindanaccountoftheAddletontragedyandthesingularcontentsoftheancientBritishbarrow。ThefamousSmith—Mortimersuccessioncasecomesalsowithinthisperiod，andsodoesthetrackingandarrestofHuret，theBoulevardassassin——
　　anexploitwhichwonforHolmesanautographletterofthanksfromtheFrenchPresidentandtheOrderoftheLegionofHonour。
　　Eachofthesewouldfurnishanarrative，butonthewholeIamofopinionthatnoneofthemunitesomanysingularpointsofinterestastheepisodeofYoxleyOldPlace，whichincludesnotonlythelamentabledeathofyoungWilloughbySmith，butalsothosesubsequentdevelopmentswhichthrewsocuriousalightuponthecausesofthecrime。
　　Itwasawild，tempestuousnighttowardsthecloseofNovember。
　　HolmesandIsattogetherinsilencealltheevening，heengagedwithapowerfullensdecipheringtheremainsoftheoriginalinscriptionuponapalimpsest，Ideepinarecenttreatiseuponsurgery。OutsidethewindhowleddownBakerStreet，whiletherainbeatfiercelyagainstthewindows。Itwasstrangethereintheverydepthsofthetown，withtenmilesofman’shandiworkoneverysideofus，tofeeltheirongripofNature，andtobeconsciousthattothehugeelementalforcesallLondonwasnomorethanthemolehillsthatdotthefields。
　　Iwalkedtothewindowandlookedoutonthedesertedstreet。
　　Theoccasionallampsgleamedontheexpanseofmuddyroadandshiningpavement。AsinglecabwassplashingitswayfromtheOxfordStreetend。
　　"Well，Watson，it’saswellwehavenottoturnoutto—night，"
　　saidHolmes，layingasidehislensandrollingupthepalimpsest。
　　"I’vedoneenoughforonesitting。Itistryingworkfortheeyes。
　　SofarasIcanmakeoutitisnothingmoreexcitingthananAbbey’saccountsdatingfromthesecondhalfofthefifteenthcentury。
　　Halloa！halloa！halloa！What’sthis？"
　　Amidthedroningofthewindtherehadcomethestampingofahorse’shoofsandthelonggrindofawheelasitraspedagainstthekerb。ThecabwhichIhadseenhadpulledupatourdoor。
　　"Whatcanhewant？"Iejaculated，asamansteppedoutofit。
　　"Want！Hewantsus。Andwe，mypoorWatson，wantovercoatsandcravatsandgoloshes，andeveryaidthatmaneverinventedtofighttheweather。Waitabit，though！There’sthecaboffagain！
　　There’shopeyet。He’dhavekeptitifhehadwantedustocome。
　　Rundown，mydearfellow，andopenthedoor，forallvirtuousfolkhavebeenlonginbed。"
　　WhenthelightofthehalllampfelluponourmidnightvisitorIhadnodifficultyinrecognisinghim。ItwasyoungStanleyHopkins，apromisingdetective，inwhosecareerHolmeshadseveraltimesshownaverypracticalinterest。
　　"Ishein？"heasked，eagerly。