"OnlyonelittlegleamofhopedidIget——andyetitamountedtonothing。Iexaminedthecontentsofthesafe，mostofwhichhadbeentakenoutandleftonthetable。Thepapershadbeenmadeupintosealedenvelopes，oneortwoofwhichhadbeenopenedbythepolice。Theywerenot，sofarasIcouldjudge，ofanygreatvalue，nordidthebank—bookshowthatMr。Oldacrewasinsuchveryaffluentcircumstances。Butitseemedtomethatallthepaperswerenotthere。Therewereallusionstosomedeeds——possiblythemorevaluable——whichIcouldnotfind。This，ofcourse，ifwecoulddefinitelyproveit，wouldturnLestrade’sargumentagainsthimself，forwhowouldstealathingifheknewthathewouldshortlyinheritit？
"Finally，havingdrawneveryothercoverandpickedupnoscent，Itriedmyluckwiththehousekeeper。Mrs。Lexingtonishername，alittle，dark，silentperson，withsuspiciousandsidelongeyes。Shecouldtellussomethingifshewould——
Iamconvincedofit。Butshewasascloseaswax。Yes，shehadletMr。McFarlaneinathalf—pastnine。Shewishedherhandhadwitheredbeforeshehaddoneso。Shehadgonetobedathalf—pastten。Herroomwasattheotherendofthehouse，andshecouldhearnothingofwhatpassed。Mr。McFarlanehadlefthishat，andtothebestofherbeliefhisstick，inthehall。
Shehadbeenawakenedbythealarmoffire。Herpoor，dearmasterhadcertainlybeenmurdered。Hadheanyenemies？
Well，everymanhadenemies，butMr。Oldacrekepthimselfverymuchtohimself，andonlymetpeopleinthewayofbusiness。
Shehadseenthebuttons，andwassurethattheybelongedtotheclotheswhichhehadwornlastnight。Thewood—pilewasverydry，forithadnotrainedforamonth。Itburnedliketinder，andbythetimeshereachedthespotnothingcouldbeseenbutflames。
Sheandallthefiremensmelledtheburnedfleshfrominsideit。
Sheknewnothingofthepapers，norofMr。Oldacre’sprivateaffairs。
"So，mydearWatson，there’smyreportofafailure。Andyet——
andyet———"——heclenchedhisthinhandsinaparoxysmofconviction——"IKNOWit’sallwrong。Ifeelitinmybones。
Thereissomethingthathasnotcomeout，andthathousekeeperknowsit。Therewasasortofsulkydefianceinhereyes，whichonlygoeswithguiltyknowledge。However，there’snogoodtalkinganymoreaboutit，Watson；butunlesssomeluckychancecomesourwayIfearthattheNorwoodDisappearanceCasewillnotfigureinthatchronicleofoursuccesseswhichIforeseethatapatientpublicwillsoonerorlaterhavetoendure。"
"Surely，"saidI，"theman’sappearancewouldgofarwithanyjury？"
"Thatisadangerousargument，mydearWatson。Yourememberthatterriblemurderer，BertStevens，whowantedustogethimoffin’87？
Wasthereeveramoremild—mannered，Sunday—schoolyoungman？"
"Itistrue。"
"Unlesswesucceedinestablishinganalternativetheorythismanislost。Youcanhardlyfindaflawinthecasewhichcannowbepresentedagainsthim，andallfurtherinvestigationhasservedtostrengthenit。Bytheway，thereisonecuriouslittlepointaboutthosepaperswhichmayserveusasthestarting—pointforaninquiry。Onlookingoverthebank—bookIfoundthatthelowstateofthebalancewasprincipallyduetolargechequeswhichhavebeenmadeoutduringthelastyeartoMr。Cornelius。IconfessthatIshouldbeinterestedtoknowwhothisMr。Corneliusmaybewithwhomaretiredbuilderhassuchverylargetransactions。Isitpossiblethathehashadahandintheaffair？Corneliusmightbeabroker，butwehavefoundnoscriptocorrespondwiththeselargepayments。Failinganyotherindicationmyresearchesmustnowtakethedirectionofaninquiryatthebankforthegentlemanwhohascashedthesecheques。ButIfear，mydearfellow，thatourcasewillendingloriouslybyLestradehangingourclient，whichwillcertainlybeatriumphforScotlandYard。"
IdonotknowhowfarSherlockHolmestookanysleepthatnight，butwhenIcamedowntobreakfastIfoundhimpaleandharassed，hisbrighteyesthebrighterforthedarkshadowsroundthem。
Thecarpetroundhischairwaslitteredwithcigarette—endsandwiththeearlyeditionsofthemorningpapers。Anopentelegramlayuponthetable。
"Whatdoyouthinkofthis，Watson？"heasked，tossingitacross。
ItwasfromNorwood，andranasfollows：——
"IMPORTANTFRESHEVIDENCETOHAND。MCFARLANE’SGUILTDEFINITELY
ESTABLISHED。ADVISEYOUTOABANDONCASE。——LESTRADE。"
"Thissoundsserious，"saidI。
"ItisLestrade’slittlecock—a—doodleofvictory，"Holmesanswered，withabittersmile。"Andyetitmaybeprematuretoabandonthecase。Afterall，importantfreshevidenceisatwo—edgedthing，andmaypossiblycutinaverydifferentdirectiontothatwhichLestradeimagines。Takeyourbreakfast，Watson，andwewillgoouttogetherandseewhatwecando。IfeelasifIshallneedyourcompanyandyourmoralsupportto—day。"
Myfriendhadnobreakfasthimself，foritwasoneofhispeculiaritiesthatinhismoreintensemomentshewouldpermithimselfnofood，andIhaveknownhimpresumeuponhisironstrengthuntilhehasfaintedfrompureinanition。"AtpresentIcannotspareenergyandnerveforcefordigestion，"hewouldsayinanswertomymedicalremonstrances。Iwasnotsurprised，therefore，whenthismorninghelefthisuntouchedmealbehindhimandstartedwithmeforNorwood。AcrowdofmorbidsightseerswerestillgatheredroundDeepDeneHouse，whichwasjustsuchasuburbanvillaasIhadpictured。WithinthegatesLestrademetus，hisfaceflushedwithvictory，hismannergrosslytriumphant。
"Well，Mr。Holmes，haveyouprovedustobewrongyet？Haveyoufoundyourtramp？"hecried。
"Ihaveformednoconclusionwhatever，"mycompanionanswered。
"Butweformedoursyesterday，andnowitprovestobecorrect；
soyoumustacknowledgethatwehavebeenalittleinfrontofyouthistime，Mr。Holmes。"
"Youcertainlyhavetheairofsomethingunusualhavingoccurred，"
saidHolmes。
Lestradelaughedloudly。
"Youdon’tlikebeingbeatenanymorethantherestofusdo，"
saidhe。"Amancan’texpectalwaystohaveithisownway，canhe，Dr。Watson？Stepthisway，ifyouplease，gentlemen，andIthinkIcanconvinceyouonceforallthatitwasJohnMcFarlanewhodidthiscrime。"
Heledusthroughthepassageandoutintoadarkhallbeyond。
"ThisiswhereyoungMcFarlanemusthavecomeouttogethishatafterthecrimewasdone，"saidhe。"Now，lookatthis。"Withdramaticsuddennesshestruckamatchandbyitslightexposedastainofblooduponthewhitewashedwall。AsheheldthematchnearerIsawthatitwasmorethanastain。Itwasthewell—markedprintofathumb。
"Lookatthatwithyourmagnifyingglass，Mr。Holmes。"
"Yes，Iamdoingso。"
"Youareawarethatnotwothumbmarksarealike？"
"Ihaveheardsomethingofthekind。"
"Well，then，willyoupleasecomparethatprintwiththiswaximpressionofyoungMcFarlane’srightthumb，takenbymyordersthismorning？"
Asheheldthewaxenprintclosetotheblood—stainitdidnottakeamagnifyingglasstoseethatthetwowereundoubtedlyfromthesamethumb。Itwasevidenttomethatourunfortunateclientwaslost。
"Thatisfinal，"saidLestrade。
"Yes，thatisfinal，"Iinvoluntarilyechoed。
"Itisfinal，"saidHolmes。
Somethinginhistonecaughtmyear，andIturnedtolookathim。Anextraordinarychangehadcomeoverhisface。Itwaswrithingwithinwardmerriment。Histwoeyeswereshininglikestars。Itseemedtomethathewasmakingdesperateeffortstorestrainaconvulsiveattackoflaughter。
"Dearme！Dearme！"hesaidatlast。"Well，now，whowouldhavethoughtit？Andhowdeceptiveappearancesmaybe，tobesure！Suchaniceyoungmantolookat！Itisalessontousnottotrustourownjudgment，isitnot，Lestrade？"
"Yes，someofusarealittletoomuchinclinedtobecocksure，Mr。Holmes，"saidLestrade。Theman’sinsolencewasmaddening，butwecouldnotresentit。
"Whataprovidentialthingthatthisyoungmanshouldpresshisrightthumbagainstthewallintakinghishatfromthepeg！
Suchaverynaturalaction，too，ifyoucometothinkofit。"
Holmeswasoutwardlycalm，buthiswholebodygaveawriggleofsuppressedexcitementashespoke。"Bytheway，Lestrade，whomadethisremarkablediscovery？"
"Itwasthehousekeeper，Mrs。Lexington，whodrewthenightconstable’sattentiontoit。"
"Wherewasthenightconstable？"
"Heremainedonguardinthebedroomwherethecrimewascommitted，soastoseethatnothingwastouched。"
"Butwhydidn’tthepoliceseethismarkyesterday？"
"Well，wehadnoparticularreasontomakeacarefulexaminationofthehall。Besides，it’snotinaveryprominentplace，asyousee。"
"No，no，ofcoursenot。Isupposethereisnodoubtthatthemarkwasthereyesterday？"
LestradelookedatHolmesasifhethoughthewasgoingoutofhismind。IconfessthatIwasmyselfsurprisedbothathishilariousmannerandathisratherwildobservation。
"Idon’tknowwhetheryouthinkthatMcFarlanecameoutofgaolinthedeadofthenightinordertostrengthentheevidenceagainsthimself，"saidLestrade。"Ileaveittoanyexpertintheworldwhetherthatisnotthemarkofhisthumb。"
"Itisunquestionablythemarkofhisthumb。"
"There，that’senough，"saidLestrade。"Iamapracticalman，Mr。Holmes，andwhenIhavegotmyevidenceIcometomyconclusions。Ifyouhaveanythingtosayyouwillfindmewritingmyreportinthesitting—room。"
Holmeshadrecoveredhisequanimity，thoughIstillseemedtodetectgleamsofamusementinhisexpression。
"Dearme，thisisaverysaddevelopment，Watson，isitnot？"
saidhe。"Andyettherearesingularpointsaboutitwhichholdoutsomehopesforourclient。"
"Iamdelightedtohearit，"saidI，heartily。"Iwasafraiditwasallupwithhim。"
"Iwouldhardlygosofarastosaythat，mydearWatson。
Thefactisthatthereisonereallyseriousflawinthisevidencetowhichourfriendattachessomuchimportance。"
"Indeed，Holmes！Whatisit？"
"Onlythis：thatIKNOWthatthatmarkwasnottherewhenIexaminedthehallyesterday。Andnow，Watson，letushavealittlestrollroundinthesunshine。"
Withaconfusedbrain，butwithaheartintowhichsomewarmthofhopewasreturning，Iaccompaniedmyfriendinawalkroundthegarden。Holmestookeachfaceofthehouseinturnandexamineditwithgreatinterest。Hethenledthewayinsideandwentoverthewholebuildingfrombasementtoattics。Mostoftheroomswereunfurnished，butnonethelessHolmesinspectedthemallminutely。Finally，onthetopcorridor，whichranoutsidethreeuntenantedbedrooms，heagainwasseizedwithaspasmofmerriment。
"Therearereallysomeveryuniquefeaturesaboutthiscase，Watson，"saidhe。"IthinkitistimenowthatwetookourfriendLestradeintoourconfidence。Hehashadhislittlesmileatourexpense，andperhapswemaydoasmuchbyhimifmyreadingofthisproblemprovestobecorrect。Yes，yes；
IthinkIseehowweshouldapproachit。"
TheScotlandYardinspectorwasstillwritingintheparlourwhenHolmesinterruptedhim。
"Iunderstoodthatyouwerewritingareportofthiscase，"saidhe。
"SoIam。"
"Don’tyouthinkitmaybealittlepremature？Ican’thelpthinkingthatyourevidenceisnotcomplete。"
Lestradeknewmyfriendtoowelltodisregardhiswords。
Helaiddownhispenandlookedcuriouslyathim。
"Whatdoyoumean，Mr。Holmes？"
"Onlythatthereisanimportantwitnesswhomyouhavenotseen。"
"Canyouproducehim？"
"IthinkIcan。"
"Thendoso。"
"Iwilldomybest。Howmanyconstableshaveyou？"
"Therearethreewithincall。"
"Excellent！"saidHolmes。"MayIaskiftheyarealllarge，able—bodiedmenwithpowerfulvoices？"
"Ihavenodoubttheyare，thoughIfailtoseewhattheirvoiceshavetodowithit。"
"PerhapsIcanhelpyoutoseethatandoneortwootherthingsaswell，"saidHolmes。"Kindlysummonyourmen，andIwilltry。"
Fiveminuteslaterthreepolicemenhadassembledinthehall。
"Intheouthouseyouwillfindaconsiderablequantityofstraw，"
saidHolmes。"Iwillaskyoutocarryintwobundlesofit。
IthinkitwillbeofthegreatestassistanceinproducingthewitnesswhomIrequire。Thankyouverymuch。Ibelieveyouhavesomematchesinyourpocket，Watson。Now，Mr。Lestrade，Iwillaskyoualltoaccompanymetothetoplanding。"
AsIhavesaid，therewasabroadcorridorthere，whichranoutsidethreeemptybedrooms。AtoneendofthecorridorwewereallmarshalledbySherlockHolmes，theconstablesgrinningandLestradestaringatmyfriendwithamazement，expectation，andderisionchasingeachotheracrosshisfeatures。Holmesstoodbeforeuswiththeairofaconjurerwhoisperformingatrick。
"Wouldyoukindlysendoneofyourconstablesfortwobucketsofwater？Putthestrawonthefloorhere，freefromthewalloneitherside。NowIthinkthatweareallready。"
Lestrade’sfacehadbeguntogrowredandangry。
"Idon’tknowwhetheryouareplayingagamewithus，Mr。SherlockHolmes，"saidhe。"Ifyouknowanything，youcansurelysayitwithoutallthistomfoolery。"
"Iassureyou，mygoodLestrade，thatIhaveanexcellentreasonforeverythingthatIdo。Youmaypossiblyrememberthatyouchaffedmealittlesomehoursago，whenthesunseemedonyoursideofthehedge，soyoumustnotgrudgemealittlepompandceremonynow。MightIaskyou，Watson，toopenthatwindow，andthentoputamatchtotheedgeofthestraw？"
Ididso，and，drivenbythedraught，acoilofgreysmokeswirleddownthecorridor，whilethedrystrawcrackledandflamed。
"Nowwemustseeifwecanfindthiswitnessforyou，Lestrade。
MightIaskyoualltojoininthecryof`Fire！’？Now，then；
one，two，three———"
"Fire！"weallyelled。
"Thankyou。Iwilltroubleyouonceagain。"
"Fire！"
"Justoncemore，gentlemen，andalltogether。"
"Fire！"TheshoutmusthaverungoverNorwood。
Ithadhardlydiedawaywhenanamazingthinghappened。Adoorsuddenlyflewopenoutofwhatappearedtobesolidwallattheendofthecorridor，andalittle，wizenedmandartedoutofit，likearabbitoutofitsburrow。
"Capital！"saidHolmes，calmly。"Watson，abucketofwateroverthestraw。Thatwilldo！Lestrade，allowmetopresentyouwithyourprincipalmissingwitness，Mr。JonasOldacre。"
Thedetectivestaredatthenew—comerwithblankamazement。
Thelatterwasblinkinginthebrightlightofthecorridor，andpeeringatusandatthesmoulderingfire。Itwasanodiousface——crafty，vicious，malignant，withshifty，light—greyeyesandwhiteeyelashes。
"What’sthis，then？"saidLestradeatlast。"Whathaveyoubeendoingallthistime，eh？"
Oldacregaveanuneasylaugh，shrinkingbackfromthefuriousredfaceoftheangrydetective。
"Ihavedonenoharm。"
"Noharm？Youhavedoneyourbesttogetaninnocentmanhanged。
Ifitwasn’tforthisgentlemanhere，Iamnotsurethatyouwouldnothavesucceeded。"
Thewretchedcreaturebegantowhimper。
"Iamsure，sir，itwasonlymypracticaljoke。"
"Oh！ajoke，wasit？Youwon’tfindthelaughonyourside，Ipromiseyou。Takehimdownandkeephiminthesitting—roomuntilIcome。Mr。Holmes，"hecontinued，whentheyhadgone，"Icouldnotspeakbeforetheconstables，butIdon’tmindsaying，inthepresenceofDr。Watson，thatthisisthebrightestthingthatyouhavedoneyet，thoughitisamysterytomehowyoudidit。Youhavesavedaninnocentman’slife，andyouhavepreventedaverygravescandal，whichwouldhaveruinedmyreputationintheForce。"
HolmessmiledandclappedLestradeupontheshoulder。
"Insteadofbeingruined，mygoodsir，youwillfindthatyourreputationhasbeenenormouslyenhanced。Justmakeafewalterationsinthatreportwhichyouwerewriting，andtheywillunderstandhowharditistothrowdustintheeyesofInspectorLestrade。"
"Andyoudon’twantyournametoappear？"
"Notatall。Theworkisitsownreward。PerhapsIshallgetthecreditalsoatsomedistantdaywhenIpermitmyzealoushistoriantolayouthisfoolscaponcemore——eh，Watson？
Well，now，letusseewherethisrathasbeenlurking。"
Alath—and—plasterpartitionhadbeenrunacrossthepassagesixfeetfromtheend，withadoorcunninglyconcealedinit。
Itwaslitwithinbyslitsundertheeaves。Afewarticlesoffurnitureandasupplyoffoodandwaterwerewithin，togetherwithanumberofbooksandpapers。
"There’stheadvantageofbeingabuilder，"saidHolmes，aswecameout。"Hewasabletofixuphisownlittlehiding—placewithoutanyconfederate——save，ofcourse，thatprecioushousekeeperofhis，whomIshouldlosenotimeinaddingtoyourbag，Lestrade。"
"I’lltakeyouradvice。Buthowdidyouknowofthisplace，Mr。Holmes？"
"Imadeupmymindthatthefellowwasinhidinginthehouse。
WhenIpacedonecorridorandfounditsixfeetshorterthanthecorrespondingonebelow，itwasprettyclearwherehewas。
Ithoughthehadnotthenervetoliequietbeforeanalarmoffire。Wecould，ofcourse，havegoneinandtakenhim，butitamusedmetomakehimrevealhimself；besides，Iowedyoualittlemystification，Lestrade，foryourchaffinthemorning。"
"Well，sir，youcertainlygotequalwithmeonthat。Buthowintheworlddidyouknowthathewasinthehouseatall？"
"Thethumb—mark，Lestrade。Yousaiditwasfinal；andsoitwas，inaverydifferentsense。Iknewithadnotbeentherethedaybefore。Ipayagooddealofattentiontomattersofdetail，asyoumayhaveobserved，andIhadexaminedthehallandwassurethatthewallwasclear。Therefore，ithadbeenputonduringthenight。"
"Buthow？"
"Verysimply。Whenthosepacketsweresealedup，JonasOldacregotMcFarlanetosecureoneofthesealsbyputtinghisthumbuponthesoftwax。ItwouldbedonesoquicklyandsonaturallythatIdaresaytheyoungmanhimselfhasnorecollectionofit。
Verylikelyitjustsohappened，andOldacrehadhimselfnonotionoftheusehewouldputitto。Broodingoverthecaseinthatdenofhis，itsuddenlystruckhimwhatabsolutelydamningevidencehecouldmakeagainstMcFarlanebyusingthatthumb—mark。
Itwasthesimplestthingintheworldforhimtotakeawaximpressionfromtheseal，tomoistenitinasmuchbloodashecouldgetfromapin—prick，andtoputthemarkuponthewallduringthenight，eitherwithhisownhandorwiththatofhishousekeeper。IfyouexamineamongthosedocumentswhichhetookwithhimintohisretreatIwilllayyouawagerthatyoufindthesealwiththethumb—markuponit。"
"Wonderful！"saidLestrade。"Wonderful！It’sallasclearascrystal，asyouputit。Butwhatistheobjectofthisdeepdeception，Mr。Holmes？"
Itwasamusingtometoseehowthedetective’soverbearingmannerhadchangedsuddenlytothatofachildaskingquestionsofitsteacher。
"Well，Idon’tthinkthatisveryhardtoexplain。Averydeep，malicious，vindictivepersonisthegentlemanwhoisnowawaitingusdownstairs。YouknowthathewasoncerefusedbyMcFarlane’smother？Youdon’t！ItoldyouthatyoushouldgotoBlackheathfirstandNorwoodafterwards。Well，thisinjury，ashewouldconsiderit，hasrankledinhiswicked，schemingbrain，andallhislifehehaslongedforvengeance，butneverseenhischance。
Duringthelastyearortwothingshavegoneagainsthim——
secretspeculation，Ithink——andhefindshimselfinabadway。
Hedeterminestoswindlehiscreditors，andforthispurposehepayslargechequestoacertainMr。Cornelius，whois，Iimagine，himselfunderanothername。Ihavenottracedthesechequesyet，butIhavenodoubtthattheywerebankedunderthatnameatsomeprovincialtownwhereOldacrefromtimetotimeledadoubleexistence。Heintendedtochangehisnamealtogether，drawthismoney，andvanish，startinglifeagainelsewhere。"
"Well，that’slikelyenough。"
"Itwouldstrikehimthatindisappearinghemightthrowallpursuitoffhistrack，andatthesametimehaveanampleandcrushingrevengeuponhisoldsweetheart，ifhecouldgivetheimpressionthathehadbeenmurderedbyheronlychild。Itwasamasterpieceofvillainy，andhecarrieditoutlikeamaster。
Theideaofthewill，whichwouldgiveanobviousmotiveforthecrime，thesecretvisitunknowntohisownparents，theretentionofthestick，theblood，andtheanimalremainsandbuttonsinthewood—pile，allwereadmirable。Itwasanetfromwhichitseemedtomeafewhoursagothattherewasnopossibleescape。Buthehadnotthatsupremegiftoftheartist，theknowledgeofwhentostop。Hewishedtoimprovethatwhichwasalreadyperfect——
todrawtheropetighteryetroundtheneckofhisunfortunatevictim——andsoheruinedall。Letusdescend，Lestrade。
TherearejustoneortwoquestionsthatIwouldaskhim。"
Themalignantcreaturewasseatedinhisownparlourwithapolicemanuponeachsideofhim。
"Itwasajoke，mygoodsir，apracticaljoke，nothingmore，"
hewhinedincessantly。"Iassureyou，sir，thatIsimplyconcealedmyselfinordertoseetheeffectofmydisappearance，andIamsurethatyouwouldnotbesounjustastoimaginethatIwouldhaveallowedanyharmtobefallpooryoungMr。McFarlane。"
"That’sforajurytodecide，"saidLestrade。"Anyhow，weshallhaveyouonachargeofconspiracy，ifnotforattemptedmurder。"
"Andyou’llprobablyfindthatyourcreditorswillimpoundthebankingaccountofMr。Cornelius，"saidHolmes。
Thelittlemanstartedandturnedhismalignanteyesuponmyfriend。
"Ihavetothankyouforagooddeal，"saidhe。"PerhapsI’llpaymydebtsomeday。"
Holmessmiledindulgently。
"Ifancythatforsomefewyearsyouwillfindyourtimeveryfullyoccupied，"saidhe。"Bytheway，whatwasityouputintothewood—pilebesidesyouroldtrousers？Adeaddog，orrabbits，orwhat？Youwon’ttell？Dearme，howveryunkindofyou！
Well，well，Idaresaythatacoupleofrabbitswouldaccountbothforthebloodandforthecharredashes。Ifeveryouwriteanaccount，Watson，youcanmakerabbitsserveyourturn。"
III。———TheAdventureoftheDancingMen。
HOLMEShadbeenseatedforsomehoursinsilencewithhislong，thinbackcurvedoverachemicalvesselinwhichhewasbrewingaparticularlymalodorousproduct。Hisheadwassunkuponhisbreast，andhelookedfrommypointofviewlikeastrange，lankbird，withdullgreyplumageandablacktop—knot。
"So，Watson，"saidhe，suddenly，"youdonotproposetoinvestinSouthAfricansecurities？"
Igaveastartofastonishment。AccustomedasIwastoHolmes’scuriousfaculties，thissuddenintrusionintomymostintimatethoughtswasutterlyinexplicable。
"Howonearthdoyouknowthat？"Iasked。
Hewheeledrounduponhisstool，withasteamingtest—tubeinhishandandagleamofamusementinhisdeep—seteyes。
"Now，Watson，confessyourselfutterlytakenaback，"saidhe。
"Iam。"
"Ioughttomakeyousignapapertothateffect。"
"Why？"