Holmesstoodforamomentindeepthought。”Withyourpermission，”saidheatlast，”Ishouldliketogoupstairsandlookintothematter。”
Webothascended，followedbythedoctor。
Itwasadreadfulsightwhichmetusasweenteredthebedroomdoor。IhavespokenoftheimpressionofflabbinesswhichthismanBlessingtonconveyed。Ashedangledfromthehookitwasexaggeratedandintensifieduntilhewasscarcehumaninhisappearance。Theneckwasdrawnoutlikeapluckedchicken’s，makingtherestofhimseemthemoreobeseandunnaturalbythecontrast。Hewascladonlyinhislongnight-dress，andhisswollenanklesandungainlyfeetprotrudedstarklyfrombeneathit。
Besidehimstoodasmart-lookingpolice-inspector，whowastakingnotesinapocket-book。”Ah，Mr。Holmes，”saidhe，heartily，asmyfriendentered，”Iamdelightedtoseeyou。””Good-morning，Lanner，”answeredHolmes；”youwon’tthinkmeanintruder，Iamsure。Haveyouheardoftheeventswhichleduptothisaffair?””Yes，Iheardsomethingofthem。””Haveyouformedanyopinion?””AsfarasIcansee，themanhasbeendrivenoutofhissensesbyfright。Thebedhasbeenwellsleptin，yousee。There’shisimpressiondeepenough。It’saboutfiveinthemorning，youknow，thatsuicidesaremostcommon。Thatwouldbeabouthistimeforhanginghimself。Itseemstohavebeenaverydeliberateaffair。””Ishouldsaythathehasbeendeadaboutthreehours，judgingbytherigidityofthemuscles，”saidI。”Noticedanythingpeculiarabouttheroom?”askedHolmes。”Foundascrew-driverandsomescrewsonthewash-handstand。Seemstohavesmokedheavilyduringthenight，too。Herearefourcigar-endsthatIpickedoutofthefireplace。””Hum！”saidHolmes，”haveyougothiscigar-holder?””No，Ihaveseennone。””Hiscigar-case，then?””Yes，itwasinhiscoat-pocket。”
Holmesopeneditandsmelledthesinglecigarwhichitcontained。”Oh，thisisanHavana，andtheseothersarecigarsofthepeculiarsortwhichareimportedbytheDutchfromtheirEastIndiancolonies。Theyareusuallywrappedinstraw，youknow，andarethinnerfortheirlengththananyotherbrand。”Hepickedupthefourendsandexaminedthemwithhispocket-lens。”Twoofthesehavebeensmokedfromaholderandtwowithout，”saidhe。”Twohavebeencutbyanotverysharpknife，andtwohavehadtheendsbittenoffbyasetofexcellentteeth。Thisisnosuicide，Mr。