\"Susanisacountrygirl，\"saidhe，\"andyouknowtheincrediblestupidityofthatclass。Ifancythatthepoorfellowmurmuredsomeincoherentdeliriouswords，andthatshetwistedthemintothismeaninglessmessage。\"
\"Isee。Youhavenoexplanationyourselfofthetragedy？\"
\"Possiblyanaccident；possibly——Ionlybreatheitamongourselves——asuicide。Youngmenhavetheirhiddentroubles——
someaffairoftheheart，perhaps，whichwehaveneverknown。
Itisamoreprobablesuppositionthanmurder。\"
\"Buttheeye—glasses？\"
\"Ah！Iamonlyastudent——amanofdreams。Icannotexplainthepracticalthingsoflife。Butstill，weareaware，myfriend，thatlove—gagesmaytakestrangeshapes。Byallmeanstakeanothercigarette。Itisapleasuretoseeanyoneappreciatethemso。Afan，aglove，glasses——whoknowswhatarticlemaybecarriedasatokenortreasuredwhenamanputsanendtohislife？Thisgentlemanspeaksoffootstepsinthegrass；but，afterall，itiseasytobemistakenonsuchapoint。Astotheknife，itmightwellbethrownfarfromtheunfortunatemanashefell。
ItispossiblethatIspeakasachild，buttomeitseemsthatWilloughbySmithhasmethisfatebyhisownhand。\"
Holmesseemedstruckbythetheorythusputforward，andhecontinuedtowalkupanddownforsometime，lostinthoughtandconsumingcigaretteaftercigarette。
\"Tellme，ProfessorCoram，\"hesaid，atlast，\"whatisinthatcupboardinthebureau？\"
\"Nothingthatwouldhelpathief。Familypapers，lettersfrommypoorwife，diplomasofUniversitieswhichhavedonemehonour。
Hereisthekey。Youcanlookforyourself。\"
Holmespickedupthekeyandlookedatitforaninstant；
thenhehandeditback。
\"No；Ihardlythinkthatitwouldhelpme，\"saidhe。\"Ishouldprefertogoquietlydowntoyourgardenandturnthewholematteroverinmyhead。Thereissomethingtobesaidforthetheoryofsuicidewhichyouhaveputforward。Wemustapologizeforhavingintrudeduponyou，ProfessorCoram，andIpromisethatwewon’tdisturbyouuntilafterlunch。Attwoo’clockwewillcomeagainandreporttoyouanythingwhichmayhavehappenedintheinterval。\"
Holmeswascuriouslydistrait，andwewalkedupanddownthegardenpathforsometimeinsilence。
\"Haveyouaclue？\"Iasked，atlast。
\"ItdependsuponthosecigarettesthatIsmoked，\"saidhe。
\"ItispossiblethatIamutterlymistaken。Thecigaretteswillshowme。\"
\"MydearHolmes，\"Iexclaimed，\"howonearth————\"
\"Well，well，youmayseeforyourself。Ifnot，there’snoharmdone。Ofcourse，wealwayshavetheopticiancluetofallbackupon，butItakeashortcutwhenIcangetit。Ah，hereisthegoodMrs。Marker！Letusenjoyfiveminutesofinstructiveconversationwithher。\"
ImayhaveremarkedbeforethatHolmeshad，whenheliked，apeculiarlyingratiatingwaywithwomen，andthatheveryreadilyestablishedtermsofconfidencewiththem。Inhalfthetimewhichhehadnamedhehadcapturedthehousekeeper’sgoodwill，andwaschattingwithherasifhehadknownherforyears。
\"Yes，Mr。Holmes，itisasyousay，sir。Hedoessmokesomethingterrible。Alldayandsometimesallnight，sir。
I’veseenthatroomofamorning——well，sir，you’dhavethoughtitwasaLondonfog。PooryoungMr。Smith，hewasasmokeralso，butnotasbadastheProfessor。Hishealth——well，Idon’tknowthatit’sbetternorworseforthesmoking。\"
\"Ah！\"saidHolmes，\"butitkillstheappetite。\"
\"Well，Idon’tknowaboutthat，sir。\"
\"IsupposetheProfessoreatshardlyanything？\"
\"Well，heisvariable。I’llsaythatforhim。\"
\"I’llwagerhetooknobreakfastthismorning，andwon’tfacehislunchafterallthecigarettesIsawhimconsume。\"
\"Well，you’reoutthere，sir，asithappens，forheatearemarkablebigbreakfastthismorning。Idon’tknowwhenI’veknownhimmakeabetterone，andhe’sorderedagooddishofcutletsforhislunch。
I’msurprisedmyself，forsinceIcameintothatroomyesterdayandsawyoungMr。SmithlyingthereonthefloorIcouldn’tbeartolookatfood。Well，ittakesallsortstomakeaworld，andtheProfessorhasn’tletittakehisappetiteaway。\"
Weloiteredthemorningawayinthegarden。StanleyHopkinshadgonedowntothevillagetolookintosomerumoursofastrangewomanwhohadbeenseenbysomechildrenontheChathamRoadthepreviousmorning。Astomyfriend，allhisusualenergyseemedtohavedesertedhim。Ihadneverknownhimhandleacaseinsuchahalf—heartedfashion。EventhenewsbroughtbackbyHopkinsthathehadfoundthechildrenandthattheyhadundoubtedlyseenawomanexactlycorrespondingwithHolmes’sdescription，andwearingeitherspectaclesoreye—glasses，failedtorouseanysignofkeeninterest。HewasmoreattentivewhenSusan，whowaiteduponusatlunch，volunteeredtheinformationthatshebelievedMr。Smithhadbeenoutforawalkyesterdaymorning，andthathehadonlyreturnedhalfanhourbeforethetragedyoccurred。Icouldnotmyselfseethebearingofthisincident，butIclearlyperceivedthatHolmeswasweavingitintothegeneralschemewhichhehadformedinhisbrain。
Suddenlyhesprangfromhischairandglancedathiswatch。
\"Twoo’clock，gentlemen，\"saidhe。\"WemustgoupandhaveitoutwithourfriendtheProfessor。\"
Theoldmanhadjustfinishedhislunch，andcertainlyhisemptydishboreevidencetothegoodappetitewithwhichhishousekeeperhadcreditedhim。Hewas，indeed，aweirdfigureasheturnedhiswhitemaneandhisglowingeyestowardsus。
Theeternalcigarettesmoulderedinhismouth。Hehadbeendressedandwasseatedinanarm—chairbythefire。
\"Well，Mr。Holmes，haveyousolvedthismysteryyet？\"Heshovedthelargetinofcigaretteswhichstoodonatablebesidehimtowardsmycompanion。Holmesstretchedouthishandatthesamemoment，andbetweenthemtheytippedtheboxovertheedge。
Foraminuteortwowewereallonourkneesretrievingstraycigarettesfromimpossibleplaces。WhenweroseagainIobservedthatHolmes’seyeswereshiningandhischeekstingedwithcolour。
OnlyatacrisishaveIseenthosebattle—signalsflying。
\"Yes，\"saidhe，\"Ihavesolvedit。\"
StanleyHopkinsandIstaredinamazement。SomethinglikeasneerquiveredoverthegauntfeaturesoftheoldProfessor。
\"Indeed！Inthegarden？\"
\"No，here。\"
\"Here！When？\"
\"Thisinstant。\"
\"Youaresurelyjoking，Mr。SherlockHolmes。Youcompelmetotellyouthatthisistooseriousamattertobetreatedinsuchafashion。\"
\"Ihaveforgedandtestedeverylinkofmychain，ProfessorCoram，andIamsurethatitissound。WhatyourmotivesareorwhatexactpartyouplayinthisstrangebusinessIamnotyetabletosay。InafewminutesIshallprobablyhearitfromyourownlips。
MeanwhileIwillreconstructwhatispastforyourbenefit，sothatyoumayknowtheinformationwhichIstillrequire。
\"Aladyyesterdayenteredyourstudy。Shecamewiththeintentionofpossessingherselfofcertaindocumentswhichwereinyourbureau。Shehadakeyofherown。Ihavehadanopportunityofexaminingyours，andIdonotfindthatslightdiscolourationwhichthescratchmadeuponthevarnishwouldhaveproduced。
Youwerenotanaccessory，therefore，andshecame，sofarasIcanreadtheevidence，withoutyourknowledgetorobyou。\"
TheProfessorblewacloudfromhislips。\"Thisismostinterestingandinstructive，\"saidhe。\"Haveyounomoretoadd？
Surely，havingtracedthisladysofar，youcanalsosaywhathasbecomeofher。\"
\"Iwillendeavourtodoso。Inthefirstplaceshewasseizedbyyoursecretary，andstabbedhiminordertoescape。
ThiscatastropheIaminclinedtoregardasanunhappyaccident，forIamconvincedthattheladyhadnointentionofinflictingsogrievousaninjury。Anassassindoesnotcomeunarmed。
Horrifiedbywhatshehaddonesherushedwildlyawayfromthesceneofthetragedy。Unfortunatelyforhershehadlostherglassesinthescuffle，andasshewasextremelyshort—sightedshewasreallyhelplesswithoutthem。Sherandownacorridor，whichsheimaginedtobethatbywhichshehadcome——bothwerelinedwithcocoanutmatting——anditwasonlywhenitwastoolatethatsheunderstoodthatshehadtakenthewrongpassageandthatherretreatwascutoffbehindher。Whatwasshetodo？
Shecouldnotgoback。Shecouldnotremainwhereshewas。
Shemustgoon。Shewenton。Shemountedastair，pushedopenadoor，andfoundherselfinyourroom。\"
TheoldmansatwithhismouthopenstaringwildlyatHolmes。
Amazementandfearwerestampeduponhisexpressivefeatures。
Now，withaneffort，heshruggedhisshouldersandburstintoinsincerelaughter。
\"Allveryfine，Mr。Holmes，\"saidhe。\"Butthereisonelittleflawinyoursplendidtheory。Iwasmyselfinmyroom，andIneverleftitduringtheday。\"
\"Iamawareofthat，ProfessorCoram。\"
\"AndyoumeantosaythatIcouldlieuponthatbedandnotbeawarethatawomanhadenteredmyroom？\"
\"Ineversaidso。YouWEREawareofit。Youspokewithher。
Yourecognisedher。Youaidedhertoescape。\"
AgaintheProfessorburstintohigh—keyedlaughter。
Hehadrisentohisfeetandhiseyesglowedlikeembers。
\"Youaremad！\"hecried。\"Youaretalkinginsanely。
Ihelpedhertoescape？Whereisshenow？\"
\"Sheisthere，\"saidHolmes，andhepointedtoahighbookcaseinthecorneroftheroom。
Isawtheoldmanthrowuphisarms，aterribleconvulsionpassedoverhisgrimface，andhefellbackinhischair。
AtthesameinstantthebookcaseatwhichHolmespointedswungrounduponahinge，andawomanrushedoutintotheroom。
\"Youareright！\"shecried，inastrangeforeignvoice。
\"Youareright！Iamhere。\"
Shewasbrownwiththedustanddrapedwiththecobwebswhichhadcomefromthewallsofherhiding—place。Herface，too，wasstreakedwithgrime，andatthebestshecouldneverhavebeenhandsome，forshehadtheexactphysicalcharacteristicswhichHolmeshaddivined，with，inaddition，alongandobstinatechin。
Whatwithhernaturalblindness，andwhatwiththechangefromdarktolight，shestoodasonedazed，blinkingabouthertoseewhereandwhowewere。Andyet，inspiteofallthesedisadvantages，therewasacertainnobilityinthewoman’sbearing，agallantryinthedefiantchinandintheupraisedhead，whichcompelledsomethingofrespectandadmiration。StanleyHopkinshadlaidhishanduponherarmandclaimedherashisprisoner，butshewavedhimasidegently，andyetwithanovermasteringdignitywhichcompelledobedience。Theoldmanlaybackinhischair，withatwitchingface，andstaredatherwithbroodingeyes。
\"Yes，sir，Iamyourprisoner，\"shesaid。\"FromwhereIstoodIcouldheareverything，andIknowthatyouhavelearnedthetruth。Iconfessitall。ItwasIwhokilledtheyoungman。
Butyouareright，youwhosayitwasanaccident。IdidnotevenknowthatitwasaknifewhichIheldinmyhand，forinmydespairIsnatchedanythingfromthetableandstruckathimtomakehimletmego。ItisthetruththatItell。\"
\"Madam，\"saidHolmes，\"Iamsurethatitisthetruth。
Ifearthatyouarefarfromwell。\"
Shehadturnedadreadfulcolour，themoreghastlyunderthedarkdust—streaksuponherface。Sheseatedherselfonthesideofthebed；thensheresumed。
\"Ihaveonlyalittletimehere，\"shesaid，\"butIwouldhaveyoutoknowthewholetruth。Iamthisman’swife。HeisnotanEnglishman。HeisaRussian。HisnameIwillnottell。\"
Forthefirsttimetheoldmanstirred。\"Godblessyou，Anna！\"
hecried。\"Godblessyou！\"
Shecastalookofthedeepestdisdaininhisdirection。
\"Whyshouldyouclingsohardtothatwretchedlifeofyours，Sergius？\"saidshe。\"Ithasdoneharmtomanyandgoodtonone——noteventoyourself。However，itisnotformetocausethefrailthreadtobesnappedbeforeGod’stime。
IhaveenoughalreadyuponmysoulsinceIcrossedthethresholdofthiscursedhouse。ButImustspeakorIshallbetoolate。
\"Ihavesaid，gentlemen，thatIamthisman’swife。HewasfiftyandIafoolishgirloftwentywhenwemarried。ItwasinacityofRussia，aUniversity——Iwillnotnametheplace。\"
\"Godblessyou，Anna！\"murmuredtheoldmanagain。
\"Wewerereformers——revolutionists——Nihilists，youunderstand。
HeandIandmanymore。Thentherecameatimeoftrouble，apoliceofficerwaskilled，manywerearrested，evidencewaswanted，andinordertosavehisownlifeandtoearnagreatrewardmyhusbandbetrayedhisownwifeandhiscompanions。
Yes，wewereallarresteduponhisconfession。SomeofusfoundourwaytothegallowsandsometoSiberia。Iwasamongtheselast，butmytermwasnotforlife。MyhusbandcametoEnglandwithhisill—gottengains，andhaslivedinquieteversince，knowingwellthatiftheBrotherhoodknewwherehewasnotaweekwouldpassbeforejusticewouldbedone。\"
Theoldmanreachedoutatremblinghandandhelpedhimselftoacigarette。\"Iaminyourhands，Anna，\"saidhe。
\"Youwerealwaysgoodtome。\"
\"Ihavenotyettoldyoutheheightofhisvillainy，\"saidshe。
\"AmongourcomradesoftheOrdertherewasonewhowasthefriendofmyheart。Hewasnoble，unselfish，loving——allthatmyhusbandwasnot。Hehatedviolence。Wewereallguilty——
ifthatisguilt——buthewasnot。Hewroteforeverdissuadingusfromsuchacourse。Theseletterswouldhavesavedhim。
Sowouldmydiary，inwhichfromdaytodayIhadenteredbothmyfeelingstowardshimandtheviewwhicheachofushadtaken。
Myhusbandfoundandkeptbothdiaryandletters。Hehidthem，andhetriedhardtoswearawaytheyoungman’slife。Inthishefailed，butAlexiswassentaconvicttoSiberia，wherenow，atthismoment，heworksinasaltmine。Thinkofthat，youvillain，youvillain；now，now，atthisverymoment，Alexis，amanwhosenameyouarenotworthytospeak，worksandliveslikeaslave，andyetIhaveyourlifeinmyhandsandIletyougo。\"
\"Youwerealwaysanoblewoman，Anna，\"saidtheoldman，puffingathiscigarette。
Shehadrisen，butshefellbackagainwithalittlecryofpain。
\"Imustfinish，\"shesaid。\"WhenmytermwasoverIsetmyselftogetthediaryandletterswhich，ifsenttotheRussianGovernment，wouldprocuremyfriend’srelease。IknewthatmyhusbandhadcometoEngland。AftermonthsofsearchingI
discoveredwherehewas。Iknewthathestillhadthediary，forwhenIwasinSiberiaIhadaletterfromhimoncereproachingmeandquotingsomepassagesfromitspages。
YetIwassurethatwithhisrevengefulnaturehewouldnevergiveittomeofhisownfreewill。Imustgetitformyself。
WiththisobjectIengagedanagentfromaprivatedetectivefirm，whoenteredmyhusband’shouseassecretary——itwasyoursecondsecretary，Sergius，theonewholeftyousohurriedly。
Hefoundthatpaperswerekeptinthecupboard，andhegotanimpressionofthekey。Hewouldnotgofarther。Hefurnishedmewithaplanofthehouse，andhetoldmethatintheforenoonthestudywasalwaysempty，asthesecretarywasemployeduphere。
SoatlastItookmycourageinbothhandsandIcamedowntogetthepapersformyself。Isucceeded，butatwhatacost！
\"Ihadjusttakenthepapersandwaslockingthecupboardwhentheyoungmanseizedme。Ihadseenhimalreadythatmorning。
HehadmetmeintheroadandIhadaskedhimtotellmewhereProfessorCoramlived，notknowingthathewasinhisemploy。\"
\"Exactly！exactly！\"saidHolmes。\"Thesecretarycamebackandtoldhisemployerofthewomanhehadmet。Theninhislastbreathhetriedtosendamessagethatitwasshe——theshewhomhehadjustdiscussedwithhim。\"
\"Youmustletmespeak，\"saidthewoman，inanimperativevoice，andherfacecontractedasifinpain。\"WhenhehadfallenIrushedfromtheroom，chosethewrongdoor，andfoundmyselfinmyhusband’sroom。Hespokeofgivingmeup。Ishowedhimthatifhedidsohislifewasinmyhands。IfhegavemetothelawIcouldgivehimtotheBrotherhood。ItwasnotthatIwishedtoliveformyownsake，butitwasthatIdesiredtoaccomplishmypurpose。HeknewthatIwoulddowhatIsaid——
thathisownfatewasinvolvedinmine。Forthatreasonandfornootherheshieldedme。Hethrustmeintothatdarkhiding—place，arelicofolddays，knownonlytohimself。
Hetookhismealsinhisownroom，andsowasabletogivemepartofhisfood。ItwasagreedthatwhenthepoliceleftthehouseIshouldslipawaybynightandcomebacknomore。
Butinsomewayyouhavereadourplans。\"Shetorefromthebosomofherdressasmallpacket。\"Thesearemylastwords，\"
saidshe；\"hereisthepacketwhichwillsaveAlexis。
Iconfideittoyourhonourandtoyourloveofjustice。
Takeit！YouwilldeliveritattheRussianEmbassy。
NowIhavedonemyduty，and————\"
\"Stopher！\"criedHolmes。Hehadboundedacrosstheroomandhadwrenchedasmallphialfromherhand。
\"Toolate！\"shesaid，sinkingbackonthebed。\"Toolate！
ItookthepoisonbeforeIleftmyhiding—place。Myheadswims！
Iamgoing！Ichargeyou，sir，torememberthepacket。\"
\"Asimplecase，andyetinsomewaysaninstructiveone，\"
Holmesremarked，aswetravelledbacktotown。\"Ithingedfromtheoutsetuponthepince—nez。ButforthefortunatechanceofthedyingmanhavingseizedtheseIamnotsurethatwecouldeverhavereachedoursolution。Itwascleartomefromthestrengthoftheglassesthatthewearermusthavebeenveryblindandhelplesswhendeprivedofthem。WhenyouaskedmetobelievethatshewalkedalonganarrowstripofgrasswithoutoncemakingafalsestepIremarked，asyoumayremember，thatitwasanoteworthyperformance。InmymindIsetitdownasanimpossibleperformance，saveintheunlikelycasethatshehadasecondpairofglasses。Iwasforced，therefore，toseriouslyconsiderthehypothesisthatshehadremainedwithinthehouse。
Onperceivingthesimilarityofthetwocorridorsitbecameclearthatshemightveryeasilyhavemadesuchamistake，andinthatcaseitwasevidentthatshemusthaveenteredtheProfessor’sroom。Iwaskeenlyonthealert，therefore，forwhateverwouldbearoutthissupposition，andIexaminedtheroomnarrowlyforanythingintheshapeofahiding—place。
Thecarpetseemedcontinuousandfirmlynailed，soIdismissedtheideaofatrap—door。Theremightwellbearecessbehindthebooks。Asyouareaware，suchdevicesarecommoninoldlibraries。Iobservedthatbookswerepiledontheflooratallotherpoints，butthatonebookcasewasleftclear。This，then，mightbethedoor。Icouldseenomarkstoguideme，butthecarpetwasofaduncolour，whichlendsitselfverywelltoexamination。Ithereforesmokedagreatnumberofthoseexcellentcigarettes，andIdroppedtheashalloverthespaceinfrontofthesuspectedbookcase。Itwasasimpletrick，butexceedinglyeffective。IthenwentdownstairsandIascertained，inyourpresence，Watson，withoutyourperceivingthedriftofmyremarks，thatProfessorCoram’sconsumptionoffoodhadincreased——asonewouldexpectwhenheissupplyingasecondperson。
Wethenascendedtotheroomagain，when，byupsettingthecigarette—box，Iobtainedaveryexcellentviewofthefloor，andwasabletoseequiteclearly，fromthetracesuponthecigaretteash，thattheprisonerhad，inourabsence，comeoutfromherretreat。Well，Hopkins，hereweareatCharingCross，andIcongratulateyouonhavingbroughtyourcasetoasuccessfulconclusion。Youaregoingtohead—quarters，nodoubt。Ithink，Watson，youandIwilldrivetogethertotheRussianEmbassy。\"
XI。———TheAdventureoftheMissingThree—Quarter。
WEwerefairlyaccustomedtoreceiveweirdtelegramsatBakerStreet，butIhaveaparticularrecollectionofonewhichreachedusonagloomyFebruarymorningsomesevenoreightyearsagoandgaveMr。SherlockHolmesapuzzledquarterofanhour。Itwasaddressedtohim，andranthus：——
\"Pleaseawaitme。Terriblemisfortune。Rightwingthree—quartermissing；indispensabletomorrow。——OVERTON。\"
\"Strandpost—markanddispatchedten—thirty—six，\"saidHolmes，readingitoverandover。\"Mr。Overtonwasevidentlyconsiderablyexcitedwhenhesentit，andsomewhatincoherentinconsequence。
Well，well，hewillbehere，Idaresay，bythetimeIhavelookedthroughtheTIMES，andthenweshallknowallaboutit。Eventhemostinsignificantproblemwouldbewelcomeinthesestagnantdays。\"
Thingshadindeedbeenveryslowwithus，andIhadlearnedtodreadsuchperiodsofinaction，forIknewbyexperiencethatmycompanion’sbrainwassoabnormallyactivethatitwasdangeroustoleaveitwithoutmaterialuponwhichtowork。
ForyearsIhadgraduallyweanedhimfromthatdrugmaniawhichhadthreatenedoncetocheckhisremarkablecareer。NowIknewthatunderordinaryconditionshenolongercravedforthisartificialstimulus，butIwaswellawarethatthefiendwasnotdead，butsleeping；andIhaveknownthatthesleepwasalightoneandthewakingnearwheninperiodsofidlenessIhaveseenthedrawnlookuponHolmes’sasceticface，andthebroodingofhisdeep—setandinscrutableeyes。ThereforeIblessedthisMr。Overton，whoeverhemightbe，sincehehadcomewithhisenigmaticmessagetobreakthatdangerouscalmwhichbroughtmoreperiltomyfriendthanallthestormsofhistempestuouslife。
Aswehadexpected，thetelegramwassoonfollowedbyitssender，andthecardofMr。CyrilOverton，ofTrinityCollege，Cambridge，announcedthearrivalofanenormousyoungman，sixteenstoneofsolidboneandmuscle，whospannedthedoorwaywithhisbroadshouldersandlookedfromoneofustotheotherwithacomelyfacewhichwashaggardwithanxiety。
\"Mr。SherlockHolmes？\"
Mycompanionbowed。
\"I’vebeendowntoScotlandYard，Mr。Holmes。
IsawInspectorStanleyHopkins。Headvisedmetocometoyou。
Hesaidthecase，sofarashecouldsee，wasmoreinyourlinethaninthatoftheregularpolice。\"
\"Praysitdownandtellmewhatisthematter。\"
\"It’sawful，Mr。Holmes，simplyawful！Iwondermyhairisn’tgrey。
GodfreyStaunton——you’veheardofhim，ofcourse？He’ssimplythehingethatthewholeteamturnson。I’drathersparetwofromthepackandhaveGodfreyformythree—quarterline。Whetherit’spassing，ortackling，ordribbling，there’snoonetotouchhim；
andthen，he’sgottheheadandcanholdusalltogether。
WhatamItodo？That’swhatIaskyou，Mr。Holmes。
There’sMoorhouse，firstreserve，butheistrainedasahalf，andhealwaysedgesrightinontothescruminsteadofkeepingoutonthetouch—line。He’safineplace—kick，it’strue，but，then，hehasnojudgment，andhecan’tsprintfornuts。
Why，MortonorJohnson，theOxfordfliers，couldromproundhim。
Stevensonisfastenough，buthecouldn’tdropfromthetwenty—fiveline，andathree—quarterwhocan’teitherpuntordropisn’tworthaplaceforpacealone。No，Mr。Holmes，wearedoneunlessyoucanhelpmetofindGodfreyStaunton。\"
Myfriendhadlistenedwithamusedsurprisetothislongspeech，whichwaspouredforthwithextraordinaryvigourandearnestness，everypointbeingdrivenhomebytheslappingofabrawnyhanduponthespeaker’sknee。WhenourvisitorwassilentHolmesstretchedouthishandandtookdownletter\"S\"ofhiscommonplacebook。Foronceheduginvainintothatmineofvariedinformation。