\"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？\"