"Comeup，mydearsir，"saidHolmes’svoicefromabove。
"Ihopeyouhavenodesignsuponusonsuchanightasthis。"
Thedetectivemountedthestairs，andourlampgleameduponhisshiningwaterproof。IhelpedhimoutofitwhileHolmesknockedablazeoutofthelogsinthegrate。
"Now，mydearHopkins，drawupandwarmyourtoes，"saidhe。
"Here’sacigar，andthedoctorhasaprescriptioncontaininghotwaterandalemonwhichisgoodmedicineonanightlikethis。
Itmustbesomethingimportantwhichhasbroughtyououtinsuchagale。"
"Itisindeed，Mr。Holmes。I’vehadabustlingafternoon，Ipromiseyou。DidyouseeanythingoftheYoxleycaseinthelatesteditions？"
"I’veseennothinglaterthanthefifteenthcenturyto—day。"
"Well，itwasonlyaparagraph，andallwrongatthat，soyouhavenotmissedanything。Ihaven’tletthegrassgrowundermyfeet。It’sdowninKent，sevenmilesfromChathamandthreefromtherailwayline。Iwaswiredforatthree—fifteen，reachedYoxleyOldPlaceatfive，conductedmyinvestigation，wasbackatCharingCrossbythelasttrain，andstraighttoyoubycab。"
"Whichmeans，Isuppose，thatyouarenotquiteclearaboutyourcase？"
"ItmeansthatIcanmakeneitherheadnortailofit。
SofarasIcanseeitisjustastangledabusinessaseverI
handled，andyetatfirstitseemedsosimplethatonecouldn’tgowrong。There’snomotive，Mr。Holmes。That’swhatbothersme——Ican’tputmyhandonamotive。Here’samandead——
there’snodenyingthat——but，sofarasIcansee，noreasononearthwhyanyoneshouldwishhimharm。"
Holmeslithiscigarandleanedbackinhischair。
"Letushearaboutit，"saidhe。
"I’vegotmyfactsprettyclear，"saidStanleyHopkins。
"AllIwantnowistoknowwhattheyallmean。Thestory，sofarasIcanmakeitout，islikethis。Someyearsagothiscountryhouse，YoxleyOldPlace，wastakenbyanelderlyman，whogavethenameofProfessorCoram。Hewasaninvalid，keepinghisbedhalfthetime，andtheotherhalfhobblingroundthehousewithastickorbeingpushedaboutthegroundsbythegardenerinabath—chair。Hewaswelllikedbythefewneighbourswhocalleduponhim，andhehasthereputationdownthereofbeingaverylearnedman。Hishouseholdusedtoconsistofanelderlyhousekeeper，Mrs。Marker，andofamaid，SusanTarlton。
Thesehavebothbeenwithhimsincehisarrival，andtheyseemtobewomenofexcellentcharacter。TheProfessoriswritingalearnedbook，andhefounditnecessaryaboutayearagotoengageasecretary。Thefirsttwothathetriedwerenotsuccesses；butthethird，Mr。WilloughbySmith，averyyoungmanstraightfromtheUniversity，seemstohavebeenjustwhathisemployerwanted。HisworkconsistedinwritingallthemorningtotheProfessor’sdictation，andheusuallyspenttheeveninginhuntingupreferencesandpassageswhichboreuponthenextday’swork。ThisWilloughbySmithhasnothingagainsthimeitherasaboyatUppinghamorasayoungmanatCambridge。
Ihaveseenhistestimonials，andfromthefirsthewasadecent，quiet，hardworkingfellow，withnoweakspotinhimatall。
AndyetthisistheladwhohasmethisdeaththismorningintheProfessor’sstudyundercircumstanceswhichcanpointonlytomurder。"
Thewindhowledandscreamedatthewindows。HolmesandIdrewclosertothefirewhiletheyounginspectorslowlyandpointbypointdevelopedhissingularnarrative。
"IfyouweretosearchallEngland，"saidhe，"Idon’tsupposeyoucouldfindahouseholdmoreself—containedorfreefromoutsideinfluences。Wholeweekswouldpassandnotoneofthemgopastthegardengate。TheProfessorwasburiedinhisworkandexistedfornothingelse。YoungSmithknewnobodyintheneighbourhood，andlivedverymuchashisemployerdid。Thetwowomenhadnothingtotakethemfromthehouse。Mortimerthegardener，whowheelsthebath—chair，isanArmypensioner——anoldCrimeanmanofexcellentcharacter。Hedoesnotliveinthehouse，butinathree—roomedcottageattheotherendofthegarden。ThosearetheonlypeoplethatyouwouldfindwithinthegroundsofYoxleyOldPlace。Atthesametime，thegateofthegardenisahundredyardsfromthemainLondontoChathamroad。Itopenswithalatch，andthereisnothingtopreventanyonefromwalkingin。
"NowIwillgiveyoutheevidenceofSusanTarlton，whoistheonlypersonwhocansayanythingpositiveaboutthematter。
Itwasintheforenoon，betweenelevenandtwelve。
Shewasengagedatthemomentinhangingsomecurtainsintheupstairsfrontbedroom。ProfessorCoramwasstillinbed，forwhentheweatherisbadheseldomrisesbeforemidday。
Thehousekeeperwasbusiedwithsomeworkinthebackofthehouse。
WilloughbySmithhadbeeninhisbedroom，whichheusesasasitting—room；butthemaidheardhimatthatmomentpassalongthepassageanddescendtothestudyimmediatelybelowher。
Shedidnotseehim，butshesaysthatshecouldnotbemistakeninhisquick，firmtread。Shedidnothearthestudydoorclose，butaminuteorsolatertherewasadreadfulcryintheroombelow。
Itwasawild，hoarsescream，sostrangeandunnaturalthatitmighthavecomeeitherfromamanorawoman。Atthesameinstanttherewasaheavythud，whichshooktheoldhouse，andthenallwassilence。Themaidstoodpetrifiedforamoment，andthen，recoveringhercourage，sherandownstairs。Thestudydoorwasshut，andsheopenedit。InsideyoungMr。WilloughbySmithwasstretcheduponthefloor。Atfirstshecouldseenoinjury，butasshetriedtoraisehimshesawthatbloodwaspouringfromtheundersideofhisneck。Itwaspiercedbyaverysmallbutverydeepwound，whichhaddividedthecarotidartery。Theinstrumentwithwhichtheinjuryhadbeeninflictedlayuponthecarpetbesidehim。
Itwasoneofthosesmallsealing—waxknivestobefoundonold—fashionedwriting—tables，withanivoryhandleandastiffblade。ItwaspartofthefittingsoftheProfessor’sowndesk。
"AtfirstthemaidthoughtthatyoungSmithwasalreadydead，butonpouringsomewaterfromthecarafeoverhisforeheadheopenedhiseyesforaninstant。`TheProfessor，’hemurmured——
`itwasshe。’Themaidispreparedtoswearthatthoseweretheexactwords。Hetrieddesperatelytosaysomethingelse，andheheldhisrighthandupintheair。Thenhefellbackdead。
"Inthemeantimethehousekeeperhadalsoarriveduponthescene，butshewasjusttoolatetocatchtheyoungman’sdyingwords。
LeavingSusanwiththebody，shehurriedtotheProfessor’sroom。
Hewassittingupinbedhorriblyagitated，forhehadheardenoughtoconvincehimthatsomethingterriblehadoccurred。
Mrs。MarkerispreparedtoswearthattheProfessorwasstillinhisnight—clothes，and，indeed，itwasimpossibleforhimtodresswithoutthehelpofMortimer，whoseordersweretocomeattwelveo’clock。TheProfessordeclaresthatheheardthedistantcry，butthatheknowsnothingmore。Hecangivenoexplanationoftheyoungman’slastwords，`TheProfessor——
itwasshe，’butimaginesthattheyweretheoutcomeofdelirium。
HebelievesthatWilloughbySmithhadnotanenemyintheworld，andcangivenoreasonforthecrime。HisfirstactionwastosendMortimerthegardenerforthelocalpolice。Alittlelaterthechiefconstablesentforme。NothingwasmovedbeforeI
gotthere，andstrictordersweregiventhatnooneshouldwalkuponthepathsleadingtothehouse。Itwasasplendidchanceofputtingyourtheoriesintopractice，Mr。SherlockHolmes。
Therewasreallynothingwanting。"
"ExceptMr。SherlockHolmes，"saidmycompanion，withasomewhatbittersmile。"Well，letushearaboutit。Whatsortofjobdidyoumakeofit？"
"Imustaskyoufirst，Mr。Holmes，toglanceatthisroughplan，whichwillgiveyouageneralideaofthepositionoftheProfessor’sstudyandthevariouspointsofthecase。
Itwillhelpyouinfollowingmyinvestigation。"
Heunfoldedtheroughchart，whichIherereproduce，andhelaiditacrossHolmes’sknee。Irose，and，standingbehindHolmes，Istudieditoverhisshoulder。
GRAPHIC
"Itisveryrough，ofcourse，anditonlydealswiththepointswhichseemtometobeessential。Alltherestyouwillseelaterforyourself。Now，firstofall，presumingthattheassassinenteredthehouse，howdidheorshecomein？
Undoubtedlybythegardenpathandthebackdoor，fromwhichthereisdirectaccesstothestudy。Anyotherwaywouldhavebeenexceedinglycomplicated。Theescapemusthavealsobeenmadealongthatline，forofthetwootherexitsfromtheroomonewasblockedbySusanassherandownstairsandtheotherleadsstraighttotheProfessor’sbedroom。Ithereforedirectedmyattentionatoncetothegardenpath，whichwassaturatedwithrecentrainandwouldcertainlyshowanyfootmarks。
"MyexaminationshowedmethatIwasdealingwithacautiousandexpertcriminal。Nofootmarksweretobefoundonthepath。
Therecouldbenoquestion，however，thatsomeonehadpassedalongthegrassborderwhichlinesthepath，andthathehaddonesoinordertoavoidleavingatrack。Icouldnotfindanythinginthenatureofadistinctimpression，butthegrasswastroddendownandsomeonehadundoubtedlypassed。Itcouldonlyhavebeenthemurderer，sinceneitherthegardenernoranyoneelsehadbeentherethatmorningandtherainhadonlybegunduringthenight。"
"Onemoment，"saidHolmes。"Wheredoesthispathleadto？"
"Totheroad。"
"Howlongisit？"
"Ahundredyardsorso。"
"Atthepointwherethepathpassesthroughthegateyoucouldsurelypickupthetracks？"
"Unfortunately，thepathwastiledatthatpoint。"
"Well，ontheroaditself？"
"No；itwasalltroddenintomire。"
"Tut—tut！Well，then，thesetracksuponthegrass，weretheycomingorgoing？"
"Itwasimpossibletosay。Therewasneveranyoutline。"
"Alargefootorasmall？"
"Youcouldnotdistinguish。"
Holmesgaveanejaculationofimpatience。
"Ithasbeenpouringrainandblowingahurricaneeversince，"
saidhe。"Itwillbehardertoreadnowthanthatpalimpsest。
Well，well，itcan’tbehelped。Whatdidyoudo，Hopkins，afteryouhadmadecertainthatyouhadmadecertainofnothing？"
"IthinkImadecertainofagooddeal，Mr。Holmes。
Iknewthatsomeonehadenteredthehousecautiouslyfromwithout。
Inextexaminedthecorridor。Itislinedwithcocoanutmattingandhadtakennoimpressionofanykind。Thisbroughtmeintothestudyitself。Itisascantily—furnishedroom。Themainarticleisalargewriting—tablewithafixedbureau。Thisbureauconsistsofadoublecolumnofdrawerswithacentralsmallcupboardbetweenthem。Thedrawerswereopen，thecupboardlocked。
Thedrawers，itseems，werealwaysopen，andnothingofvaluewaskeptinthem。Thereweresomepapersofimportanceinthecupboard，buttherewerenosignsthatthishadbeentamperedwith，andtheProfessorassuresmethatnothingwasmissing。Itiscertainthatnorobberyhasbeencommitted。
"Icomenowtothebodyoftheyoungman。
Itwasfoundnearthebureau，andjusttotheleftofit，asmarkeduponthatchart。Thestabwasontherightsideoftheneckandfrombehindforwards，sothatitisalmostimpossiblethatitcouldhavebeenself—inflicted。"
"Unlesshefellupontheknife，"saidHolmes。
"Exactly。Theideacrossedmymind。Butwefoundtheknifesomefeetawayfromthebody，sothatseemsimpossible。Then，ofcourse，therearetheman’sowndyingwords。And，finally，therewasthisveryimportantpieceofevidencewhichwasfoundclaspedinthedeadman’srighthand。"
FromhispocketStanleyHopkinsdrewasmallpaperpacket。
Heunfoldeditanddisclosedagoldenpince—nez，withtwobrokenendsofblacksilkcorddanglingfromtheendofit。
"WilloughbySmithhadexcellentsight，"headded。"Therecanbenoquestionthatthiswassnatchedfromthefaceorthepersonoftheassassin。"
SherlockHolmestooktheglassesintohishandandexaminedthemwiththeutmostattentionandinterest。Heheldthemonhisnose，endeavouredtoreadthroughthem，wenttothewindowandstaredupthestreetwiththem，lookedatthemmostminutelyinthefulllightofthelamp，andfinally，withachuckle，seatedhimselfatthetableandwroteafewlinesuponasheetofpaper，whichhetossedacrosstoStanleyHopkins。
"That’sthebestIcandoforyou，"saidhe。
"Itmayprovetobeofsomeuse。"
Theastonisheddetectivereadthenotealoud。Itranasfollows：——
"Wanted，awomanofgoodaddress，attiredlikealady。
Shehasaremarkablythicknose，witheyeswhicharesetcloseuponeithersideofit。Shehasapuckeredforehead，apeeringexpression，andprobablyroundedshoulders。Thereareindicationsthatshehashadrecoursetoanopticianatleasttwiceduringthelastfewmonths。Asherglassesareofremarkablestrengthandasopticiansarenotverynumerous，thereshouldbenodifficultyintracingher。"
HolmessmiledattheastonishmentofHopkins，whichmusthavebeenreflecteduponmyfeatures。
"Surelymydeductionsaresimplicityitself，"saidhe。
"Itwouldbedifficulttonameanyarticleswhichaffordafinerfieldforinferencethanapairofglasses，especiallysoremarkableapairasthese。ThattheybelongtoawomanI
inferfromtheirdelicacy，andalso，ofcourse，fromthelastwordsofthedyingman。Astoherbeingapersonofrefinementandwelldressed，theyare，asyouperceive，handsomelymountedinsolidgold，anditisinconceivablethatanyonewhoworesuchglassescouldbeslatternlyinotherrespects。Youwillfindthattheclipsaretoowideforyournose，showingthatthelady’snosewasverybroadatthebase。Thissortofnoseisusuallyashortandcoarseone，butthereareasufficientnumberofexceptionstopreventmefrombeingdogmaticorfrominsistinguponthispointinmydescription。Myownfaceisanarrowone，andyetIfindthatIcannotgetmyeyesintothecentre，ornearthecentre，oftheseglasses。Thereforethelady’seyesaresetveryneartothesidesofthenose。Youwillperceive，Watson，thattheglassesareconcaveandofunusualstrength。
Aladywhosevisionhasbeensoextremelycontractedallherlifeissuretohavethephysicalcharacteristicsofsuchvision，whichareseenintheforehead，theeyelids，andtheshoulders。"
"Yes，"Isaid，"Icanfolloweachofyourarguments。Iconfess，however，thatIamunabletounderstandhowyouarriveatthedoublevisittotheoptician。"
Holmestooktheglassesinhishand。
"Youwillperceive，"hesaid，"thattheclipsarelinedwithtinybandsofcorktosoftenthepressureuponthenose。Oneoftheseisdiscolouredandworntosomeslightextent，buttheotherisnew。Evidentlyonehasfallenoffandbeenreplaced。
Ishouldjudgethattheolderofthemhasnotbeentheremorethanafewmonths。Theyexactlycorrespond，soIgatherthattheladywentbacktothesameestablishmentforthesecond。"
"ByGeorge，it’smarvellous！"criedHopkins，inanecstasyofadmiration。"TothinkthatIhadallthatevidenceinmyhandandneverknewit！Ihadintended，however，togotheroundoftheLondonopticians。"
"Ofcourseyouwould。Meanwhile，haveyouanythingmoretotellusaboutthecase？"
"Nothing，Mr。Holmes。IthinkthatyouknowasmuchasIdonow——probablymore。Wehavehadinquiriesmadeastoanystrangerseenonthecountryroadsorattherailwaystation。
Wehaveheardofnone。Whatbeatsmeistheutterwantofallobjectinthecrime。Notaghostofamotivecananyonesuggest。"
"Ah！thereIamnotinapositiontohelpyou。ButIsupposeyouwantustocomeoutto—morrow？"
"Ifitisnotaskingtoomuch，Mr。Holmes。There’satrainfromCharingCrosstoChathamatsixinthemorning，andweshouldbeatYoxleyOldPlacebetweeneightandnine。"
"Thenweshalltakeit。Yourcasehascertainlysomefeaturesofgreatinterest，andIshallbedelightedtolookintoit。
Well，it’snearlyone，andwehadbestgetafewhours’sleep。
Idaresayyoucanmanageallrightonthesofainfrontofthefire。I’lllightmyspirit—lampandgiveyouacupofcoffeebeforewestart。"
Thegalehadblownitselfoutnextday，butitwasabittermorningwhenwestarteduponourjourney。WesawthecoldwintersunriseoverthedrearymarshesoftheThamesandthelong，sullenreachesoftheriver，whichIshalleverassociatewithourpursuitoftheAndamanIslanderintheearlierdaysofourcareer。AfteralongandwearyjourneywealightedatasmallstationsomemilesfromChatham。Whileahorsewasbeingputintoatrapatthelocalinnwesnatchedahurriedbreakfast，andsowewereallreadyforbusinesswhenweatlastarrivedatYoxleyOldPlace。Aconstablemetusatthegardengate。
"Well，Wilson，anynews？"
"No，sir，nothing。"
"Noreportsofanystrangerseen？"
"No，sir。Downatthestationtheyarecertainthatnostrangereithercameorwentyesterday。"
"Haveyouhadinquiriesmadeatinnsandlodgings？"
"Yes，sir；thereisnoonethatwecannotaccountfor。"
"Well，it’sonlyareasonablewalktoChatham。Anyonemightstaythere，ortakeatrainwithoutbeingobserved。ThisisthegardenpathofwhichIspoke，Mr。Holmes。I’llpledgemywordtherewasnomarkonityesterday。"
"Onwhichsidewerethemarksonthegrass？"
"Thisside，sir。Thisnarrowmarginofgrassbetweenthepathandtheflower—bed。Ican’tseethetracesnow，buttheywerecleartomethen。"
"Yes，yes；someonehaspassedalong，"saidHolmes，stoopingoverthegrassborder。"Ourladymusthavepickedherstepscarefully，mustshenot，sinceontheonesideshewouldleaveatrackonthepath，andontheotheranevencleareroneonthesoftbed？"
"Yes，sir，shemusthavebeenacoolhand。"
IsawanintentlookpassoverHolmes’sface。
"Yousaythatshemusthavecomebackthisway？"
"Yes，sir；thereisnoother。"
"Onthisstripofgrass？"
"Certainly，Mr。Holmes。"
"Hum！Itwasaveryremarkableperformance——veryremarkable。
Well，Ithinkwehaveexhaustedthepath。Letusgofarther。
Thisgardendoorisusuallykeptopen，Isuppose？Thenthisvisitorhadnothingtodobuttowalkin。Theideaofmurderwasnotinhermind，orshewouldhaveprovidedherselfwithsomesortofweapon，insteadofhavingtopickthisknifeoffthewriting—table。Sheadvancedalongthiscorridor，leavingnotracesuponthecocoanutmatting。Thenshefoundherselfinthisstudy。Howlongwasshethere？Wehavenomeansofjudging。"
"Notmorethanafewminutes，sir。IforgottotellyouthatMrs。Marker，thehousekeeper，hadbeenintheretidyingnotverylongbefore——aboutaquarterofanhour，shesays。"
"Well，thatgivesusalimit。Ourladyentersthisroomandwhatdoesshedo？Shegoesovertothewriting—table。
Whatfor？Notforanythinginthedrawers。Iftherehadbeenanythingworthhertakingitwouldsurelyhavebeenlockedup。
No；itwasforsomethinginthatwoodenbureau。Halloa！whatisthatscratchuponthefaceofit？Justholdamatch，Watson。
Whydidyounottellmeofthis，Hopkins？"
Themarkwhichhewasexaminingbeganuponthebrassworkontheright—handsideofthekeyhole，andextendedforaboutfourinches，whereithadscratchedthevarnishfromthesurface。
"Inoticedit，Mr。Holmes。Butyou’llalwaysfindscratchesroundakeyhole。"
"Thisisrecent，quiterecent。Seehowthebrassshineswhereitiscut。Anoldscratchwouldbethesamecolourasthesurface。
Lookatitthroughmylens。There’sthevarnish，too，likeearthoneachsideofafurrow。IsMrs。Markerthere？"
Asad—faced，elderlywomancameintotheroom。
"Didyoudustthisbureauyesterdaymorning？"
"Yes，sir。"
"Didyounoticethisscratch？"
"No，sir，Ididnot。"
"Iamsureyoudidnot，foradusterwouldhavesweptawaytheseshredsofvarnish。Whohasthekeyofthisbureau？"
"TheProfessorkeepsitonhiswatch—chain。"
"Isitasimplekey？"
"No，sir；itisaChubb’skey。"
"Verygood。Mrs。Marker，youcango。Nowwearemakingalittleprogress。Ourladyenterstheroom，advancestothebureau，andeitheropensitortriestodoso。WhilesheisthusengagedyoungWilloughbySmithenterstheroom。Inherhurrytowithdrawthekeyshemakesthisscratchuponthedoor。
Heseizesher，andshe，snatchingupthenearestobject，whichhappenstobethisknife，strikesathiminordertomakehimletgohishold。Theblowisafatalone。Hefallsandsheescapes，eitherwithorwithouttheobjectforwhichshehascome。IsSusanthemaidthere？Couldanyonehavegotawaythroughthatdoorafterthetimethatyouheardthecry，Susan？"
"Nosir；itisimpossible。BeforeIgotdownthestairI’dhaveseenanyoneinthepassage。Besides，thedoorneveropened，forIwouldhaveheardit。"
"Thatsettlesthisexit。Thennodoubttheladywentoutthewayshecame。IunderstandthatthisotherpassageleadsonlytotheProfessor’sroom。Thereisnoexitthatway？"
"No，sir。"
"WeshallgodownitandmaketheacquaintanceoftheProfessor。
Halloa，Hopkins！thisisveryimportant，veryimportantindeed。
TheProfessor’scorridorisalsolinedwithcocoanutmatting。"
"Well，sir，whatofthat？"
"Don’tyouseeanybearinguponthecase？Well，well，Idon’tinsistuponit。NodoubtIamwrong。Andyetitseemstometobesuggestive。Comewithmeandintroduceme。"
Wepasseddownthepassage，whichwasofthesamelengthasthatwhichledtothegarden。Attheendwasashortflightofstepsendinginadoor。Ourguideknocked，andthenusheredusintotheProfessor’sbedroom。
Itwasaverylargechamber，linedwithinnumerablevolumes，whichhadoverflowedfromtheshelvesandlayinpilesinthecorners，orwerestackedallroundatthebaseofthecases。
Thebedwasinthecentreoftheroom，andinit，proppedupwithpillows，wastheownerofthehouse。Ihaveseldomseenamoreremarkable—lookingperson。Itwasagaunt，aquilinefacewhichwasturnedtowardsus，withpiercingdarkeyes，whichlurkedindeephollowsunderoverhungandtuftedbrows。Hishairandbeardwerewhite，savethatthelatterwascuriouslystainedwithyellowaroundhismouth。Acigaretteglowedamidthetangleofwhitehair，andtheairoftheroomwasfetidwithstaletobacco—smoke。AsheheldouthishandtoHolmesIperceivedthatitalsowasstainedyellowwithnicotine。
"Asmoker，Mr。Holmes？"saidhe，speakingwell—chosenEnglishwithacuriouslittlemincingaccent。"Praytakeacigarette。
Andyou，sir？Icanrecommendthem，forIhavethemespeciallypreparedbyIonidesofAlexandria。Hesendsmeathousandatatime，andIgrievetosaythatIhavetoarrangeforafreshsupplyeveryfortnight。Bad，sir，verybad，butanoldmanhasfewpleasures。Tobaccoandmywork——thatisallthatislefttome。"
Holmeshadlitacigarette，andwasshootinglittledartingglancesallovertheroom。
"Tobaccoandmywork，butnowonlytobacco，"theoldmanexclaimed。
"Alas！whatafatalinterruption！Whocouldhaveforeseensuchaterriblecatastrophe？Soestimableayoungman！Iassureyouthatafterafewmonths’traininghewasanadmirableassistant。
Whatdoyouthinkofthematter，Mr。Holmes？"
"Ihavenotyetmadeupmymind。"
"Ishallindeedbeindebtedtoyouifyoucanthrowalightwhereallissodarktous。Toapoorbookwormandinvalidlikemyselfsuchablowisparalyzing。Iseemtohavelostthefacultyofthought。Butyouareamanofaction——youareamanofaffairs。Itispartoftheeverydayroutineofyourlife。
Youcanpreserveyourbalanceineveryemergency。Wearefortunateindeedinhavingyouatourside。"
HolmeswaspacingupanddownonesideoftheroomwhilsttheoldProfessorwastalking。Iobservedthathewassmokingwithextraordinaryrapidity。Itwasevidentthathesharedourhost’slikingforthefreshAlexandriancigarettes。
"Yes，sir，itisacrushingblow，"saidtheoldman。"ThatismyMAGNUMOPUS——thepileofpapersonthesidetableyonder。
ItismyanalysisofthedocumentsfoundintheCopticmonasteriesofSyriaandEgypt，aworkwhichwillcutdeepattheveryfoundationsofrevealedreligion。WithmyenfeebledhealthIdonotknowwhetherIshalleverbeabletocompleteitnowthatmyassistanthasbeentakenfromme。Dearme，Mr。Holmes；
why，youareevenaquickersmokerthanIammyself。"
Holmessmiled。
"Iamaconnoisseur，"saidhe，takinganothercigarettefromthebox——hisfourth——andlightingitfromthestubofthatwhichhehadfinished。"Iwillnottroubleyouwithanylengthycross—examination，ProfessorCoram，sinceIgatherthatyouwereinbedatthetimeofthecrimeandcouldknownothingaboutit。
Iwouldonlyaskthis。Whatdoyouimaginethatthispoorfellowmeantbyhislastwords：`TheProfessor——itwasshe’？"
TheProfessorshookhishead。