”Theywerecertainlyverymuchlargerthananywhichhecouldhavemade，andwereevidentlyquitefresh。Itrainedhardthisafternoon，asyouknow，andmypatientsweretheonlypeoplewhocalled。Itmusthavebeenthecase，then，thatthemaninthewaiting-roomhad，forsomeunknownreason，whileIwasbusywiththeother，ascendedtotheroomofmyresidentpatient。Nothinghasbeentouchedortaken，buttherewerethefootprintstoprovethattheintrusionwasanundoubtedfact。”Mr。BlessingtonseemedmoreexcitedoverthematterthanIshouldhavethoughtpossible，thoughofcourseitwasenoughtodisturbanybody’speaceofmind。Heactuallysatcryinginanarm-chair，andIcouldhardlygethimtospeakcoherently。ItwashissuggestionthatIshouldcomeroundtoyou，andofcourseIatoncesawtheproprietyofit，forcertainlytheincidentisaverysingularone，thoughheappearstocompletelyovertakeitsimportance。Ifyouwouldonlycomebackwithmeinmybrougham，youwouldatleastbeabletosoothehim，thoughIcanhardlyhopethatyouwillbeabletoexplainthisremarkableoccurrence。”
SherlockHolmeshadlistenedtothislongnarrativewithanintentnesswhichshowedmethathisinterestwaskeenlyaroused。Hisfacewasasimpassiveasever，buthislidshaddroopedmoreheavilyoverhiseyes，andhissmokehadcurledupmorethicklyfromhispipetoemphasizeeachcuriousepisodeinthedoctor’stale。Asourvisitorconcluded，Holmessprangupwithoutaword，handedmemyhat，pickedhisownfromthetable，andfollowedDr。Trevelyantothedoor。Withinaquarterofanhourwehadbeendrippedatthedoorofthephysician’sresidenceinBrookStreet，oneofthosesombre，flat-facedhouseswhichoneassociateswithaWest-Endpractice。Asmallpageadmittedus，andwebeganatoncetoascendthebroad，well-carpetedstair。
Butasingularinterruptionbroughtustoastandstill。Thelightatthetopwassuddenlywhiskedout，andfromthedarknesscameareedy，quiveringvoice。”Ihaveapistol，”itcried。”IgiveyoumywordthatI’llfireifyoucomeanynearer。””Thisreallygrowsoutrageous，Mr。Blessington，”criedDr。Trevelyan。”Oh，thenitisyou，doctor，”saidthevoice，withagreatheaveofrelief。”Butthoseothergentlemen，aretheywhattheypretendtobe?”
Wewereconsciousofalongscrutinyoutofthedarkness。”Yes，yes，it’sallright，”saidthevoiceatlast。”Youcancomeup，andIamsorryifmyprecautionshaveannoyedyou。”
Herelitthestairgasashespoke，andwesawbeforeusasingular-lookingman，whoseappearance，aswellashisvoice，testifiedtohisjanglednerves。Hewasveryfat，buthadapparentlyatsometimebeenmuchfatter，sothattheskinhungabouthisfaceinloosepouches，likethecheeksofablood-hound。Hewasofasicklycolor，andhisthin，sandyhairseemedtobristleupwiththeintensityofhisemotion。Inhishandheheldapistol，buthethrustitintohispocketasweadvanced。”Good-evening，Mr。Holmes，”saidhe。”IamsureIamverymuchobligedtoyouforcominground。NooneeverneededyouradvicemorethanIdo。IsupposethatDr。Trevelyanhastoldyouofthismostunwarrantableintrusionintomyrooms。””Quiteso，”saidHolmes。”WhoarethesetowmenMr。