\"Howlonghaveyoubeenhere，doctor？\"
\"Sincefouro’clock。\"
\"Anyoneelse？\"
\"Yes，theconstablehere。\"
\"Andyouhavetouchednothing？\"
\"Nothing。\"
\"Youhaveactedwithgreatdiscretion。Whosentforyou？\"
\"Thehousemaid，Saunders。\"
\"Wasitshewhogavethealarm？\"
\"SheandMrs。King，thecook。\"
\"Wherearetheynow？\"
\"Inthekitchen，Ibelieve。\"
\"ThenIthinkwehadbetterheartheirstoryatonce。\"
Theoldhall，oak—panelledandhigh—windowed，hadbeenturnedintoacourtofinvestigation。Holmessatinagreat，old—fashionedchair，hisinexorableeyesgleamingoutofhishaggardface。Icouldreadinthemasetpurposetodevotehislifetothisquestuntiltheclientwhomhehadfailedtosaveshouldatlastbeavenged。ThetrimInspectorMartin，theold，grey—headedcountrydoctor，myself，andastolidvillagepolicemanmadeuptherestofthatstrangecompany。
Thetwowomentoldtheirstoryclearlyenough。Theyhadbeenarousedfromtheirsleepbythesoundofanexplosion，whichhadbeenfollowedaminutelaterbyasecondone。Theysleptinadjoiningrooms，andMrs。KinghadrushedintoSaunders。
Togethertheyhaddescendedthestairs。Thedoorofthestudywasopenandacandlewasburninguponthetable。Theirmasterlayuponhisfaceinthecentreoftheroom。Hewasquitedead。
Nearthewindowhiswifewascrouching，herheadleaningagainstthewall。Shewashorriblywounded，andthesideofherfacewasredwithblood。Shebreathedheavily，butwasincapableofsayinganything。Thepassage，aswellastheroom，wasfullofsmokeandthesmellofpowder。Thewindowwascertainlyshutandfastenedupontheinside。Bothwomenwerepositiveuponthepoint。Theyhadatoncesentforthedoctorandfortheconstable。Then，withtheaidofthegroomandthestable—boy，theyhadconveyedtheirinjuredmistresstoherroom。Bothsheandherhusbandhadoccupiedthebed。Shewascladinherdress——heinhisdressing—gown，overhisnightclothes。Nothinghadbeenmovedinthestudy。Sofarastheyknewtherehadneverbeenanyquarrelbetweenhusbandandwife。Theyhadalwayslookeduponthemasaveryunitedcouple。
Thesewerethemainpointsoftheservants’evidence。InanswertoInspectorMartintheywereclearthateverydoorwasfastenedupontheinside，andthatnoonecouldhaveescapedfromthehouse。InanswertoHolmestheybothrememberedthattheywereconsciousofthesmellofpowderfromthemomentthattheyranoutoftheirroomsuponthetopfloor。\"Icommendthatfactverycarefullytoyourattention，\"saidHolmestohisprofessionalcolleague。\"AndnowIthinkthatweareinapositiontoundertakeathoroughexaminationoftheroom。\"
Thestudyprovedtobeasmallchamber，linedonthreesideswithbooks，andwithawriting—tablefacinganordinarywindow，whichlookedoutuponthegarden。Ourfirstattentionwasgiventothebodyoftheunfortunatesquire，whosehugeframelaystretchedacrosstheroom。Hisdisordereddressshowedthathehadbeenhastilyarousedfromsleep。Thebullethadbeenfiredathimfromthefront，andhadremainedinhisbodyafterpenetratingtheheart。Hisdeathhadcertainlybeeninstantaneousandpainless。Therewasnopowder—markingeitheruponhisdressing—gownoronhishands。Accordingtothecountrysurgeontheladyhadstainsuponherface，butnoneuponherhand。
\"Theabsenceofthelattermeansnothing，thoughitspresencemaymeaneverything，\"saidHolmes。\"Unlessthepowderfromabadly—fittingcartridgehappenstospurtbackwards，onemayfiremanyshotswithoutleavingasign。IwouldsuggestthatMr。Cubitt’sbodymaynowberemoved。Isuppose，doctor，youhavenotrecoveredthebulletwhichwoundedthelady？\"
\"Aseriousoperationwillbenecessarybeforethatcanbedone。
Buttherearestillfourcartridgesintherevolver。Twohavebeenfiredandtwowoundsinflicted，sothateachbulletcanbeaccountedfor。\"
\"Soitwouldseem，\"saidHolmes。\"Perhapsyoucanaccountalsoforthebulletwhichhassoobviouslystrucktheedgeofthewindow？\"
Hehadturnedsuddenly，andhislong，thinfingerwaspointingtoaholewhichhadbeendrilledrightthroughthelowerwindow—sashaboutaninchabovethebottom。
\"ByGeorge！\"criedtheinspector。\"Howeverdidyouseethat？\"
\"BecauseIlookedforit。\"
\"Wonderful！\"saidthecountrydoctor。\"Youarecertainlyright，sir。Thenathirdshothasbeenfired，andthereforeathirdpersonmusthavebeenpresent。Butwhocouldthathavebeenandhowcouldhehavegotaway？\"
\"Thatistheproblemwhichwearenowabouttosolve，\"saidSherlockHolmes。\"Youremember，InspectorMartin，whentheservantssaidthatonleavingtheirroomtheywereatonceconsciousofasmellofpowderIremarkedthatthepointwasanextremelyimportantone？\"
\"Yes，sir；butIconfessIdidnotquitefollowyou。\"
\"Itsuggestedthatatthetimeofthefiringthewindowaswellasthedooroftheroomhadbeenopen。Otherwisethefumesofpowdercouldnothavebeenblownsorapidlythroughthehouse。
Adraughtintheroomwasnecessaryforthat。Bothdoorandwindowwereonlyopenforaveryshorttime，however。\"
\"Howdoyouprovethat？\"
\"Becausethecandlehasnotguttered。\"
\"Capital！\"criedtheinspector。\"Capital！\"
\"FeelingsurethatthewindowhadbeenopenatthetimeofthetragedyIconceivedthattheremighthavebeenathirdpersonintheaffair，whostoodoutsidethisopeningandfiredthroughit。
Anyshotdirectedatthispersonmighthitthesash。Ilooked，andthere，sureenough，wasthebulletmark！\"
\"Buthowcamethewindowtobeshutandfastened？\"
\"Thewoman’sfirstinstinctwouldbetoshutandfastenthewindow。
But，halloa！whatisthis？\"
Itwasalady’shand—bagwhichstooduponthestudytable——
atrimlittlehand—bagofcrocodile—skinandsilver。Holmesopeneditandturnedthecontentsout。Thereweretwentyfifty—poundnotesoftheBankofEngland，heldtogetherbyanindia—rubberband——nothingelse。
\"Thismustbepreserved，foritwillfigureinthetrial，\"saidHolmes，ashehandedthebagwithitscontentstotheinspector。
\"Itisnownecessarythatweshouldtrytothrowsomelightuponthisthirdbullet，whichhasclearly，fromthesplinteringofthewood，beenfiredfrominsidetheroom。IshouldliketoseeMrs。King，thecook，again。Yousaid，Mrs。King，thatyouwereawakenedbyaLOUDexplosion。Whenyousaidthat，didyoumeanthatitseemedtoyoutobelouderthanthesecondone？\"
\"Well，sir，itwakenedmefrommysleep，andsoitishardtojudge。
Butitdidseemveryloud。\"
\"Youdon’tthinkthatitmighthavebeentwoshotsfiredalmostatthesameinstant？\"
\"IamsureIcouldn’tsay，sir。\"
\"Ibelievethatitwasundoubtedlyso。Iratherthink，InspectorMartin，thatwehavenowexhaustedallthatthisroomcanteachus。Ifyouwillkindlysteproundwithme，weshallseewhatfreshevidencethegardenhastooffer。\"
Aflower—bedextendeduptothestudywindow，andweallbrokeintoanexclamationasweapproachedit。Theflowersweretrampleddown，andthesoftsoilwasimprintedalloverwithfootmarks。Large，masculinefeettheywere，withpeculiarlylong，sharptoes。Holmeshuntedaboutamongthegrassandleaveslikearetrieverafterawoundedbird。Then，withacryofsatisfaction，hebentforwardandpickedupalittlebrazencylinder。
\"Ithoughtso，\"saidhe；\"therevolverhadanejector，andhereisthethirdcartridge。Ireallythink，InspectorMartin，thatourcaseisalmostcomplete。\"
Thecountryinspector’sfacehadshownhisintenseamazementattherapidandmasterfulprogressofHolmes’sinvestigation。
Atfirsthehadshownsomedispositiontoasserthisownposition；
butnowhewasovercomewithadmirationandreadytofollowwithoutquestionwhereverHolmesled。
\"Whomdoyoususpect？\"heasked。
\"I’llgointothatlater。ThereareseveralpointsinthisproblemwhichIhavenotbeenabletoexplaintoyouyet。
NowthatIhavegotsofarIhadbestproceedonmyownlines，andthenclearthewholematteruponceandforall。\"
\"Justasyouwish，Mr。Holmes，solongaswegetourman。\"
\"Ihavenodesiretomakemysteries，butitisimpossibleatthemomentofactiontoenterintolongandcomplexexplanations。
Ihavethethreadsofthisaffairallinmyhand。Evenifthisladyshouldneverrecoverconsciousnesswecanstillreconstructtheeventsoflastnightandensurethatjusticebedone。
FirstofallIwishtoknowwhetherthereisanyinninthisneighbourhoodknownas`Elrige’s’？\"
Theservantswerecross—questioned，butnoneofthemhadheardofsuchaplace。Thestable—boythrewalightuponthematterbyrememberingthatafarmerofthatnamelivedsomemilesoffinthedirectionofEastRuston。
\"Isitalonelyfarm？\"
\"Verylonely，sir。\"
\"Perhapstheyhavenotheardyetofallthathappenedhereduringthenight？\"
\"Maybenot，sir。\"
Holmesthoughtforalittleandthenacurioussmileplayedoverhisface。
\"Saddleahorse，mylad，\"saidhe。\"IshallwishyoutotakeanotetoElrige’sFarm。\"
Hetookfromhispocketthevariousslipsofthedancingmen。
Withtheseinfrontofhimheworkedforsometimeatthestudy—table。Finallyhehandedanotetotheboy，withdirectionstoputitintothehandsofthepersontowhomitwasaddressed，andespeciallytoanswernoquestionsofanysortwhichmightbeputtohim。Isawtheoutsideofthenote，addressedinstraggling，irregularcharacters，veryunlikeHolmes’susualprecisehand。ItwasconsignedtoMr。AbeSlaney，Elrige’sFarm，EastRuston，Norfolk。
\"Ithink，inspector，\"Holmesremarked，\"thatyouwoulddowelltotelegraphforanescort，as，ifmycalculationsprovetobecorrect，youmayhaveaparticularlydangerousprisonertoconveytothecountygaol。Theboywhotakesthisnotecouldnodoubtforwardyourtelegram。Ifthereisanafternoontraintotown，Watson，Ithinkweshoulddowelltotakeit，asIhaveachemicalanalysisofsomeinteresttofinish，andthisinvestigationdrawsrapidlytoaclose。\"
Whentheyouthhadbeendispatchedwiththenote，SherlockHolmesgavehisinstructionstotheservants。IfanyvisitorweretocallaskingforMrs。HiltonCubittnoinformationshouldbegivenastohercondition，buthewastobeshownatonceintothedrawing—room。Heimpressedthesepointsuponthemwiththeutmostearnestness。Finallyheledthewayintothedrawing—roomwiththeremarkthatthebusinesswasnowoutofourhands，andthatwemustwhileawaythetimeasbestwemightuntilwecouldseewhatwasinstoreforus。Thedoctorhaddepartedtohispatients，andonlytheinspectorandmyselfremained。
\"IthinkthatIcanhelpyoutopassanhourinaninterestingandprofitablemanner，\"saidHolmes，drawinghischairuptothetableandspreadingoutinfrontofhimthevariouspapersuponwhichwererecordedtheanticsofthedancingmen。\"Astoyou，friendWatson，Ioweyoueveryatonementforhavingallowedyournaturalcuriositytoremainsolongunsatisfied。Toyou，inspector，thewholeincidentmayappealasaremarkableprofessionalstudy。ImusttellyoufirstofalltheinterestingcircumstancesconnectedwiththepreviousconsultationswhichMr。HiltonCubitthashadwithmeinBakerStreet。\"Hethenshortlyrecapitulatedthefactswhichhavealreadybeenrecorded。\"Ihavehereinfrontofmethesesingularproductions，atwhichonemightsmilehadtheynotprovedthemselvestobethefore—runnersofsoterribleatragedy。Iamfairlyfamiliarwithallformsofsecretwritings，andammyselftheauthorofatriflingmonographuponthesubject，inwhichIanalyzeonehundredandsixtyseparateciphers；butIconfessthatthisisentirelynewtome。
Theobjectofthosewhoinventedthesystemhasapparentlybeentoconcealthatthesecharactersconveyamessage，andtogivetheideathattheyarethemererandomsketchesofchildren。
\"Havingoncerecognised，however，thatthesymbolsstoodforletters，andhavingappliedtheruleswhichguideusinallformsofsecretwritings，thesolutionwaseasyenough。
ThefirstmessagesubmittedtomewassoshortthatitwasimpossibleformetodomorethantosaywithsomeconfidencethatthesymbolXXXstoodforE。Asyouareaware，EisthemostcommonletterintheEnglishalphabet，anditpredominatestosomarkedanextentthateveninashortsentenceonewouldexpecttofinditmostoften。Outoffifteensymbolsinthefirstmessagefourwerethesame，soitwasreasonabletosetthisdownasE。Itistruethatinsomecasesthefigurewasbearingaflagandinsomecasesnot，butitwasprobablefromthewayinwhichtheflagsweredistributedthattheywereusedtobreakthesentenceupintowords。Iacceptedthisasahypothesis，andnotedthatEwasrepresentedbyXXX。
\"Butnowcametherealdifficultyoftheinquiry。TheorderoftheEnglishlettersafterEisbynomeanswellmarked，andanypreponderancewhichmaybeshowninanaverageofaprintedsheetmaybereversedinasingleshortsentence。Speakingroughly，T，A，O，I，N，S，H，R，D，andLarethenumericalorderinwhichlettersoccur；butT，A，O，andIareverynearlyabreastofeachother，anditwouldbeanendlesstasktotryeachcombinationuntilameaningwasarrivedat。I，therefore，waitedforfreshmaterial。InmysecondinterviewwithMr。
HiltonCubitthewasabletogivemetwoothershortsentencesandonemessage，whichappeared——sincetherewasnoflag——
tobeasingleword。Herearethesymbols。Now，inthesinglewordIhavealreadygotthetwoE’scomingsecondandfourthinawordoffiveletters。Itmightbe`sever，’or`lever，’or`never。’Therecanbenoquestionthatthelatterasareplytoanappealisfarthemostprobable，andthecircumstancespointedtoitsbeingareplywrittenbythelady。Acceptingitascorrect，wearenowabletosaythatthesymbolsXXXstandrespectivelyforN，V，andR。
\"EvennowIwasinconsiderabledifficulty，butahappythoughtputmeinpossessionofseveralotherletters。Itoccurredtomethatiftheseappealscame，asIexpected，fromsomeonewhohadbeenintimatewiththeladyinherearlylife，acombinationwhichcontainedtwoE’swiththreelettersbetweenmightverywellstandforthename`ELSIE。’OnexaminationIfoundthatsuchacombinationformedtheterminationofthemessagewhichwasthreetimesrepeated。Itwascertainlysomeappealto`Elsie。’
InthiswayIhadgotmyL，S，andI。Butwhatappealcoulditbe？
Therewereonlyfourlettersinthewordwhichpreceded`Elsie，’
anditendedinE。Surelythewordmustbe`COME。’ItriedallotherfourlettersendinginE，butcouldfindnonetofitthecase。
SonowIwasinpossessionofC，O，andM，andIwasinapositiontoattackthefirstmessageoncemore，dividingitintowordsandputtingdotsforeachsymbolwhichwasstillunknown。
Sotreateditworkedoutinthisfashion：——。M。ERE……ESL。NE。
\"NowthefirstletterCANonlybeA，whichisamostusefuldiscovery，sinceitoccursnofewerthanthreetimesinthisshortsentence，andtheHisalsoapparentinthesecondword。
Nowitbecomes：——
AMHEREA。ESLANE。
Or，fillingintheobviousvacanciesinthename：——
AMHEREABESLANEY。
IhadsomanylettersnowthatIcouldproceedwithconsiderableconfidencetothesecondmessage，whichworkedoutinthisfashion：——
A。ELRI。ES。
HereIcouldonlymakesensebyputtingTandGforthemissingletters，andsupposingthatthenamewasthatofsomehouseorinnatwhichthewriterwasstaying。\"
InspectorMartinandIhadlistenedwiththeutmostinteresttothefullandclearaccountofhowmyfriendhadproducedresultswhichhadledtosocompleteacommandoverourdifficulties。
\"Whatdidyoudothen，sir？\"askedtheinspector。
\"IhadeveryreasontosupposethatthisAbeSlaneywasanAmerican，sinceAbeisanAmericancontraction，andsincealetterfromAmericahadbeenthestarting—pointofallthetrouble。Ihadalsoeverycausetothinkthattherewassomecriminalsecretinthematter。Thelady’sallusionstoherpastandherrefusaltotakeherhusbandintoherconfidencebothpointedinthatdirection。Ithereforecabledtomyfriend，WilsonHargreave，oftheNewYorkPoliceBureau，whohasmorethanoncemadeuseofmyknowledgeofLondoncrime。IaskedhimwhetherthenameofAbeSlaneywasknowntohim。Hereishisreply：`ThemostdangerouscrookinChicago。’OntheveryeveninguponwhichIhadhisanswerHiltonCubittsentmethelastmessagefromSlaney。Workingwithknownlettersittookthisform：——
ELSIE。RE。ARETOMEETTHYGO。
TheadditionofaPandaDcompletedamessagewhichshowedmethattherascalwasproceedingfrompersuasiontothreats，andmyknowledgeofthecrooksofChicagopreparedmetofindthathemightveryrapidlyputhiswordsintoaction。IatoncecametoNorfolkwithmyfriendandcolleague，Dr。Watson，but，unhappily，onlyintimetofindthattheworsthadalreadyoccurred。\"
\"Itisaprivilegetobeassociatedwithyouinthehandlingofacase，\"saidtheinspector，warmly。\"Youwillexcuseme，however，ifIspeakfranklytoyou。Youareonlyanswerabletoyourself，butIhavetoanswertomysuperiors。IfthisAbeSlaney，livingatElrige’s，isindeedthemurderer，andifhehasmadehisescapewhileIamseatedhere，Ishouldcertainlygetintoserioustrouble。\"
\"Youneednotbeuneasy。Hewillnottrytoescape。\"
\"Howdoyouknow？\"
\"Toflywouldbeaconfessionofguilt。\"
\"Thenletusgotoarresthim。\"
\"Iexpecthimhereeveryinstant。\"
\"Butwhyshouldhecome？\"
\"BecauseIhavewrittenandaskedhim。\"
\"Butthisisincredible，Mr。Holmes！Whyshouldhecomebecauseyouhaveaskedhim？Wouldnotsucharequestratherrousehissuspicionsandcausehimtofly？\"
\"IthinkIhaveknownhowtoframetheletter，\"saidSherlockHolmes。\"Infact，ifIamnotverymuchmistaken，hereisthegentlemanhimselfcomingupthedrive。\"
Amanwasstridingupthepathwhichledtothedoor。Hewasatall，handsome，swarthyfellow，cladinasuitofgreyflannel，withaPanamahat，abristlingblackbeard，andagreat，aggressivehookednose，andflourishingacaneashewalked。
Heswaggeredupthepathasiftheplacebelongedtohim，andweheardhisloud，confidentpealatthebell。
\"Ithink，gentlemen，\"saidHolmes，quietly，\"thatwehadbesttakeupourpositionbehindthedoor。Everyprecautionisnecessarywhendealingwithsuchafellow。Youwillneedyourhandcuffs，inspector。Youcanleavethetalkingtome。\"
Wewaitedinsilenceforaminute——oneofthoseminuteswhichonecanneverforget。Thenthedooropenedandthemansteppedin。InaninstantHolmesclappedapistoltohisheadandMartinslippedthehandcuffsoverhiswrists。Itwasalldonesoswiftlyanddeftlythatthefellowwashelplessbeforeheknewthathewasattacked。Heglaredfromonetotheotherofuswithapairofblazingblackeyes。Thenheburstintoabitterlaugh。
\"Well，gentlemen，youhavethedroponmethistime。Iseemtohaveknockedupagainstsomethinghard。ButIcamehereinanswertoaletterfromMrs。HiltonCubitt。Don’ttellmethatsheisinthis？Don’ttellmethatshehelpedtosetatrapforme？\"
\"Mrs。HiltonCubittwasseriouslyinjuredandisatdeath’sdoor。\"
Themangaveahoarsecryofgriefwhichrangthroughthehouse。
\"You’recrazy！\"hecried，fiercely。\"Itwashethatwashurt，notshe。WhowouldhavehurtlittleElsie？Imayhavethreatenedher，Godforgiveme，butIwouldnothavetouchedahairofherprettyhead。Takeitback——you！Saythatsheisnothurt！\"
\"Shewasfoundbadlywoundedbythesideofherdeadhusband。\"
Hesankwithadeepgroanontothesetteeandburiedhisfaceinhismanacledhands。Forfiveminuteshewassilent。Thenheraisedhisfaceoncemore，andspokewiththecoldcomposureofdespair。
\"Ihavenothingtohidefromyou，gentlemen，\"saidhe。
\"IfIshotthemanhehadhisshotatme，andthere’snomurderinthat。ButifyouthinkIcouldhavehurtthatwoman，thenyoudon’tknoweithermeorher。ItellyoutherewasneveramaninthisworldlovedawomanmorethanIlovedher。Ihadarighttoher。Shewaspledgedtomeyearsago。WhowasthisEnglishmanthatheshouldcomebetweenus？ItellyouthatI
hadthefirstrighttoher，andthatIwasonlyclaimingmyown。\"
\"Shebrokeawayfromyourinfluencewhenshefoundthemanthatyouare，\"saidHolmes，sternly。\"ShefledfromAmericatoavoidyou，andshemarriedanhonourablegentlemaninEngland。
Youdoggedherandfollowedherandmadeherlifeamiserytoherinordertoinducehertoabandonthehusbandwhomshelovedandrespectedinordertoflywithyou，whomshefearedandhated。
Youhaveendedbybringingaboutthedeathofanoblemananddrivinghiswifetosuicide。Thatisyourrecordinthisbusiness，Mr。AbeSlaney，andyouwillanswerforittothelaw。\"
\"IfElsiediesIcarenothingwhatbecomesofme，\"saidtheAmerican。Heopenedoneofhishandsandlookedatanotecrumpledupinhispalm。\"Seehere，mister，hecried，withagleamofsuspicioninhiseyes，\"you’renottryingtoscaremeoverthis，areyou？Iftheladyishurtasbadasyousay，whowasitthatwrotethisnote？\"Hetosseditforwardsontothetable。
\"Iwroteittobringyouhere。\"
\"Youwroteit？TherewasnooneonearthoutsidetheJointwhoknewthesecretofthedancingmen。Howcameyoutowriteit？\"
\"Whatonemancaninventanothercandiscover，\"saidHolmes。
ThereisacabcomingtoconveyyoutoNorwich，Mr。Slaney。
But，meanwhile，youhavetimetomakesomesmallreparationfortheinjuryyouhavewrought。AreyouawarethatMrs。HiltonCubitthasherselflainundergravesuspicionofthemurderofherhusband，andthatitwasonlymypresencehereandtheknowledgewhichIhappenedtopossesswhichhassavedherfromtheaccusation？Theleastthatyouoweheristomakeitcleartothewholeworldthatshewasinnoway，directlyorindirectly，responsibleforhistragicend。\"
\"Iasknothingbetter，\"saidtheAmerican。\"IguesstheverybestcaseIcanmakeformyselfistheabsolutenakedtruth。\"
\"Itismydutytowarnyouthatitwillbeusedagainstyou，\"
criedtheinspector，withthemagnificentfair—playoftheBritishcriminallaw。
Slaneyshruggedhisshoulders。
\"I’llchancethat，\"saidhe。\"Firstofall，IwantyougentlementounderstandthatIhaveknownthisladysinceshewasachild。ThereweresevenofusinaganginChicago，andElsie’sfatherwasthebossoftheJoint。Hewasacleverman，wasoldPatrick。Itwashewhoinventedthatwriting，whichwouldpassasachild’sscrawlunlessyoujusthappenedtohavethekeytoit。Well，Elsielearnedsomeofourways；butshecouldn’tstandthebusiness，andshehadabitofhonestmoneyofherown，soshegaveusalltheslipandgotawaytoLondon。
Shehadbeenengagedtome，andshewouldhavemarriedme，Ibelieve，ifIhadtakenoveranotherprofession；butshewouldhavenothingtodowithanythingonthecross。ItwasonlyafterhermarriagetothisEnglishmanthatIwasabletofindoutwhereshewas。Iwrotetoher，butgotnoanswer。AfterthatIcameover，and，asletterswerenouse，Iputmymessageswhereshecouldreadthem。
\"Well，Ihavebeenhereamonthnow。Ilivedinthatfarm，whereIhadaroomdownbelow，andcouldgetinandouteverynight，andnoonethewiser。ItriedallIcouldtocoaxElsieaway。Iknewthatshereadthemessages，foronceshewroteananswerunderoneofthem。Thenmytempergotthebetterofme，andIbegantothreatenher。Shesentmealetterthen，imploringmetogoawayandsayingthatitwouldbreakherheartifanyscandalshouldcomeuponherhusband。Shesaidthatshewouldcomedownwhenherhusbandwasasleepatthreeinthemorning，andspeakwithmethroughtheendwindow，ifIwouldgoawayafterwardsandleaveherinpeace。Shecamedownandbroughtmoneywithher，tryingtobribemetogo。Thismadememad，andIcaughtherarmandtriedtopullherthroughthewindow。Atthatmomentinrushedthehusbandwithhisrevolverinhishand。Elsiehadsunkdownuponthefloor，andwewerefacetoface。Iwasheeledalso，andIheldupmyguntoscarehimoffandletmegetaway。Hefiredandmissedme。Ipulledoffalmostatthesameinstant，anddownhedropped。Imadeawayacrossthegarden，andasIwentIheardthewindowshutbehindme。That’sGod’struth，gentlemen，everywordofit，andIheardnomoreaboutituntilthatladcameridingupwithanotewhichmademewalkinhere，likeajay，andgivemyselfintoyourhands。\"
AcabhaddrivenupwhilsttheAmericanhadbeentalking。
Twouniformedpolicemensatinside。InspectorMartinroseandtouchedhisprisonerontheshoulder。