\"Iwilltellyouaboutlastnight。Youareaware，perhaps，thatinthishouseallservantssleepinthemodernwing。
Thiscentralblockismadeupofthedwelling—rooms，withthekitchenbehindandourbedroomabove。MymaidTheresasleepsabovemyroom。Thereisnooneelse，andnosoundcouldalarmthosewhoareinthefartherwing。Thismusthavebeenwellknowntotherobbers，ortheywouldnothaveactedastheydid。
\"SirEustaceretiredabouthalf—pastten。Theservantshadalreadygonetotheirquarters。Onlymymaidwasup，andshehadremainedinherroomatthetopofthehouseuntilIneededherservices。Isatuntilaftereleveninthisroom，absorbedinabook。ThenIwalkedroundtoseethatallwasrightbeforeIwentupstairs。Itwasmycustomtodothismyself，for，asIhaveexplained，SirEustacewasnotalwaystobetrusted。
Iwentintothekitchen，thebutler’spantry，thegun—room，thebilliard—room，thedrawing—room，andfinallythedining—room。
AsIapproachedthewindow，whichiscoveredwiththickcurtains，Isuddenlyfeltthewindblowuponmyfaceandrealizedthatitwasopen。Iflungthecurtainasideandfoundmyselffacetofacewithabroad—shouldered，elderlymanwhohadjuststeppedintotheroom。ThewindowisalongFrenchone，whichreallyformsadoorleadingtothelawn。Iheldmybedroomcandlelitinmyhand，and，byitslight，behindthefirstmanIsawtwoothers，whowereintheactofentering。Isteppedback，butthefellowwasonmeinaninstant。Hecaughtmefirstbythewristandthenbythethroat。Iopenedmymouthtoscream，buthestruckmeasavageblowwithhisfistovertheeye，andfelledmetotheground。Imusthavebeenunconsciousforafewminutes，forwhenIcametomyselfIfoundthattheyhadtorndownthebell—ropeandhadsecuredmetightlytotheoakenchairwhichstandsattheheadofthedining—roomtable。
IwassofirmlyboundthatIcouldnotmove，andahandkerchiefroundmymouthpreventedmefromutteringanysound。Itwasatthisinstantthatmyunfortunatehusbandenteredtheroom。
Hehadevidentlyheardsomesuspicioussounds，andhecamepreparedforsuchasceneashefound。Hewasdressedinhisshirtandtrousers，withhisfavouriteblackthorncudgelinhishand。Herushedatoneoftheburglars，butanother——itwastheelderlyman——stooped，pickedthepokeroutofthegrate，andstruckhimahorribleblowashepassed。Hefellwithoutagroan，andnevermovedagain。Ifaintedoncemore，butagainitcouldonlyhavebeenaveryfewminutesduringwhichIwasinsensible。WhenIopenedmyeyesIfoundthattheyhadcollectedthesilverfromthesideboard，andtheyhaddrawnabottleofwinewhichstoodthere。Eachofthemhadaglassinhishand。Ihavealreadytoldyou，haveInot，thatonewaselderly，withabeard，andtheothersyoung，hairlesslads。
Theymighthavebeenafatherwithhistwosons。Theytalkedtogetherinwhispers。ThentheycameoverandmadesurethatIwasstillsecurelybound。Finallytheywithdrew，closingthewindowafterthem。ItwasquiteaquarterofanhourbeforeIgotmymouthfree。WhenIdidsomyscreamsbroughtthemaidtomyassistance。Theotherservantsweresoonalarmed，andwesentforthelocalpolice，whoinstantlycommunicatedwithLondon。ThatisreallyallthatIcantellyou，gentlemen，andItrustthatitwillnotbenecessaryformetogooversopainfulastoryagain。\"
\"Anyquestions，Mr。Holmes？\"askedHopkins。
\"IwillnotimposeanyfurthertaxuponLadyBrackenstall’spatienceandtime，\"saidHolmes。\"BeforeIgointothedining—roomIshouldliketohearyourexperience。\"
Helookedatthemaid。
\"Isawthemenbeforeevertheycameintothehouse，\"saidshe。
\"AsIsatbymybedroomwindowIsawthreemeninthemoonlightdownbythelodgegateyonder，butIthoughtnothingofitatthetime。ItwasmorethananhourafterthatIheardmymistressscream，anddownIran，tofindher，poorlamb，justasshesays，andhimonthefloorwithhisbloodandbrainsovertheroom。Itwasenoughtodriveawomanoutofherwits，tiedthere，andherverydressspottedwithhim；butsheneverwantedcourage，didMissMaryFraserofAdelaide，andLadyBrackenstallofAbbeyGrangehasn’tlearnednewways。You’vequestionedherlongenough，yougentlemen，andnowsheiscomingtoherownroom，justwithheroldTheresa，togettherestthatshebadlyneeds。\"
Withamotherlytendernessthegauntwomanputherarmroundhermistressandledherfromtheroom。
\"Shehasbeenwithherallherlife，\"saidHopkins。
\"Nursedherasababy，andcamewithhertoEnglandwhentheyfirstleftAustraliaeighteenmonthsago。
TheresaWrightishername，andthekindofmaidyoudon’tpickupnowadays。Thisway，Mr。Holmes，ifyouplease！\"
ThekeeninteresthadpassedoutofHolmes’sexpressiveface，andIknewthatwiththemysteryallthecharmofthecasehaddeparted。Therestillremainedanarresttobeeffected，butwhatwerethesecommonplaceroguesthatheshouldsoilhishandswiththem？AnabstruseandlearnedspecialistwhofindsthathehasbeencalledinforacaseofmeasleswouldexperiencesomethingoftheannoyancewhichIreadinmyfriend’seyes。
Yetthesceneinthedining—roomoftheAbbeyGrangewassufficientlystrangetoarresthisattentionandtorecallhiswaninginterest。
Itwasaverylargeandhighchamber，withcarvedoakceiling，oakenpanelling，andafinearrayofdeer’sheadsandancientweaponsaroundthewalls。AtthefartherendfromthedoorwasthehighFrenchwindowofwhichwehadheard。Threesmallerwindowsontheright—handsidefilledtheapartmentwithcoldwintersunshine。Ontheleftwasalarge，deepfireplace，withamassive，over—hangingoakmantelpiece。Besidethefireplacewasaheavyoakenchairwitharmsandcross—barsatthebottom。
Inandoutthroughtheopenwoodworkwaswovenacrimsoncord，whichwassecuredateachsidetothecrosspiecebelow。
Inreleasingtheladythecordhadbeenslippedoffher，buttheknotswithwhichithadbeensecuredstillremained。
Thesedetailsonlystruckourattentionafterwards，forourthoughtswereentirelyabsorbedbytheterribleobjectwhichlayuponthetiger—skinhearthruginfrontofthefire。
Itwasthebodyofatall，well—mademan，aboutfortyyearsofage。Helayuponhisback，hisfaceupturned，withhiswhiteteethgrinningthroughhisshortblackbeard。Histwoclenchedhandswereraisedabovehishead，andaheavyblackthornsticklayacrossthem。Hisdark，handsome，aquilinefeatureswereconvulsedintoaspasmofvindictivehatred，whichhadsethisdeadfaceinaterriblyfiendishexpression。Hehadevidentlybeeninhisbedwhenthealarmhadbrokenout，forheworeafoppishembroiderednight—shirt，andhisbarefeetprojectedfromhistrousers。Hisheadwashorriblyinjured，andthewholeroomborewitnesstothesavageferocityoftheblowwhichhadstruckhimdown。Besidehimlaytheheavypoker，bentintoacurvebytheconcussion。Holmesexaminedbothitandtheindescribablewreckwhichithadwrought。
\"Hemustbeapowerfulman，thiselderRandall，\"heremarked。
\"Yes，\"saidHopkins。\"Ihavesomerecordofthefellow，andheisaroughcustomer。\"
\"Youshouldhavenodifficultyingettinghim。\"
\"Nottheslightest。Wehavebeenonthelook—outforhim，andtherewassomeideathathehadgotawaytoAmerica。
NowthatweknowthegangarehereIdon’tseehowtheycanescape。Wehavethenewsateveryseaportalready，andarewardwillbeofferedbeforeevening。Whatbeatsmeishowtheycouldhavedonesomadathing，knowingthattheladycoulddescribethem，andthatwecouldnotfailtorecognisethedescription。\"
\"Exactly。OnewouldhaveexpectedthattheywouldhavesilencedLadyBrackenstallaswell。\"
\"Theymaynothaverealized，\"Isuggested，\"thatshehadrecoveredfromherfaint。\"
\"Thatislikelyenough。Ifsheseemedtobesenselesstheywouldnottakeherlife。Whataboutthispoorfellow，Hopkins？
Iseemtohaveheardsomequeerstoriesabouthim。\"
\"Hewasagood—heartedmanwhenhewassober，butaperfectfiendwhenhewasdrunk，orratherwhenhewashalfdrunk，forheseldomreallywentthewholeway。Thedevilseemedtobeinhimatsuchtimes，andhewascapableofanything。
FromwhatIhear，inspiteofallhiswealthandhistitle，heverynearlycameourwayonceortwice。Therewasascandalabouthisdrenchingadogwithpetroleumandsettingitonfire——herladyship’sdog，tomakethematterworse——
andthatwasonlyhushedupwithdifficulty。Thenhethrewadecanteratthatmaid，TheresaWright；therewastroubleaboutthat。Onthewhole，andbetweenourselves，itwillbeabrighterhousewithouthim。Whatareyoulookingatnow？\"
Holmeswasdownonhiskneesexaminingwithgreatattentiontheknotsupontheredcordwithwhichtheladyhadbeensecured。
Thenhecarefullyscrutinizedthebrokenandfrayedendwhereithadsnappedoffwhentheburglarhaddraggeditdown。
\"Whenthiswaspulleddownthebellinthekitchenmusthaverungloudly，\"heremarked。
\"Noonecouldhearit。Thekitchenstandsrightatthebackofthehouse。\"
\"Howdidtheburglarknownoonewouldhearit？Howdaredhepullatabell—ropeinthatrecklessfashion？\"
\"Exactly，Mr。Holmes，exactly。YouputtheveryquestionwhichIhaveaskedmyselfagainandagain。Therecanbenodoubtthatthisfellowmusthaveknownthehouseanditshabits。Hemusthaveperfectlyunderstoodthattheservantswouldallbeinbedatthatcomparativelyearlyhour，andthatnoonecouldpossiblyhearabellringinthekitchen。Thereforehemusthavebeenincloseleaguewithoneoftheservants。Surelythatisevident。
Butthereareeightservants，andallofgoodcharacter。\"
\"Otherthingsbeingequal，\"saidHolmes，\"onewouldsuspecttheoneatwhoseheadthemasterthrewadecanter。Andyetthatwouldinvolvetreacherytowardsthemistresstowhomthiswomanseemsdevoted。Well，well，thepointisaminorone，andwhenyouhaveRandallyouwillprobablyfindnodifficultyinsecuringhisaccomplice。Thelady’sstorycertainlyseemstobecorroborated，ifitneededcorroboration，byeverydetailwhichweseebeforeus。\"HewalkedtotheFrenchwindowandthrewitopen。\"Therearenosignshere，butthegroundisironhard，andonewouldnotexpectthem。Iseethatthesecandlesonthemantelpiecehavebeenlighted。\"
\"Yes；itwasbytheirlightandthatofthelady’sbedroomcandlethattheburglarssawtheirwayabout。\"
\"Andwhatdidtheytake？\"
\"Well，theydidnottakemuch——onlyhalf—a—dozenarticlesofplateoffthesideboard。LadyBrackenstallthinksthattheywerethemselvessodisturbedbythedeathofSirEustacethattheydidnotransackthehouseastheywouldotherwisehavedone。\"
\"Nodoubtthatistrue。Andyettheydranksomewine，Iunderstand。\"
\"Tosteadytheirownnerves。\"
\"Exactly。Thesethreeglassesuponthesideboardhavebeenuntouched，Isuppose？\"
\"Yes；andthebottlestandsastheyleftit。\"
\"Letuslookatit。Halloa！halloa！whatisthis？\"
Thethreeglassesweregroupedtogether，allofthemtingedwithwine，andoneofthemcontainingsomedregsofbees—wing。
Thebottlestoodnearthem，two—thirdsfull，andbesideitlayalong，deeply—stainedcork。Itsappearanceandthedustuponthebottleshowedthatitwasnocommonvintagewhichthemurderershadenjoyed。
AchangehadcomeoverHolmes’smanner。Hehadlosthislistlessexpression，andagainIsawanalertlightofinterestinhiskeen，deep—seteyes。Heraisedthecorkandexamineditminutely。
\"Howdidtheydrawit？\"heasked。
Hopkinspointedtoahalf—openeddrawer。Initlaysometablelinenandalargecork—screw。
\"DidLadyBrackenstallsaythatscrewwasused？\"
\"No；yourememberthatshewassenselessatthemomentwhenthebottlewasopened。\"
\"Quiteso。AsamatteroffactthatscrewwasNOTused。
Thisbottlewasopenedbyapocket—screw，probablycontainedinaknife，andnotmorethananinchandahalflong。Ifyouexaminethetopofthecorkyouwillobservethatthescrewwasdriveninthreetimesbeforethecorkwasextracted。Ithasneverbeentransfixed。Thislongscrewwouldhavetransfixeditanddrawnitwithasinglepull。Whenyoucatchthisfellowyouwillfindthathehasoneofthesemultiplexknivesinhispossession。\"
\"Excellent！\"saidHopkins。
\"Buttheseglassesdopuzzleme，Iconfess。LadyBrackenstallactuallySAWthethreemendrinking，didshenot？\"
\"Yes；shewasclearaboutthat。\"
\"Thenthereisanendofit。Whatmoreistobesaid？
Andyetyoumustadmitthatthethreeglassesareveryremarkable，Hopkins。What，youseenothingremarkable！
Well，well，letitpass。Perhapswhenamanhasspecialknowledgeandspecialpowerslikemyownitratherencourageshimtoseekacomplexexplanationwhenasimpleroneisathand。
Ofcourse，itmustbeamerechanceabouttheglasses。
Well，goodmorning，Hopkins。Idon’tseethatIcanbeofanyusetoyou，andyouappeartohaveyourcaseveryclear。
YouwillletmeknowwhenRandallisarrested，andanyfurtherdevelopmentswhichmayoccur。ItrustthatIshallsoonhavetocongratulateyouuponasuccessfulconclusion。Come，Watson，Ifancythatwemayemployourselvesmoreprofitablyathome。\"
DuringourreturnjourneyIcouldseebyHolmes’sfacethathewasmuchpuzzledbysomethingwhichhehadobserved。
Everynowandthen，byaneffort，hewouldthrowofftheimpressionandtalkasifthematterwereclear，butthenhisdoubtswouldsettledownuponhimagain，andhisknittedbrowsandabstractedeyeswouldshowthathisthoughtshadgonebackoncemoretothegreatdining—roomoftheAbbeyGrangeinwhichthismidnighttragedyhadbeenenacted。Atlast，byasuddenimpulse，justasourtrainwascrawlingoutofasuburbanstation，hesprangontotheplatformandpulledmeoutafterhim。
\"Excuseme，mydearfellow，\"saidhe，aswewatchedtherearcarriagesofourtraindisappearingroundacurve；\"Iamsorrytomakeyouthevictimofwhatmayseemamerewhim，butonmylife，Watson，IsimplyCAN’Tleavethatcaseinthiscondition。
EveryinstinctthatIpossesscriesoutagainstit。
It’swrong——it’sallwrong——I’llswearthatit’swrong。
Andyetthelady’sstorywascomplete，themaid’scorroborationwassufficient，thedetailwasfairlyexact。WhathaveItoputagainstthat？Threewine—glasses，thatisall。ButifIhadnottakenthingsforgranted，ifIhadexaminedeverythingwithcarewhichIwouldhaveshownhadweapproachedthecaseDENOVO
andhadnocut—and—driedstorytowarpmymind，wouldInotthenhavefoundsomethingmoredefinitetogoupon？OfcourseIshould。
Sitdownonthisbench，Watson，untilatrainforChislehurstarrives，andallowmetolaytheevidencebeforeyou，imploringyouinthefirstinstancetodismissfromyourmindtheideathatanythingwhichthemaidorhermistressmayhavesaidmustnecessarilybetrue。Thelady’scharmingpersonalitymustnotbepermittedtowarpourjudgment。
\"Surelytherearedetailsinherstorywhich，ifwelookedatitincoldblood，wouldexciteoursuspicion。TheseburglarsmadeaconsiderablehaulatSydenhamafortnightago。Someaccountofthemandoftheirappearancewasinthepapers，andwouldnaturallyoccurtoanyonewhowishedtoinventastoryinwhichimaginaryrobbersshouldplayapart。Asamatteroffact，burglarswhohavedoneagoodstrokeofbusinessare，asarule，onlytoogladtoenjoytheproceedsinpeaceandquietwithoutembarkingonanotherperilousundertaking。Again，itisunusualforburglarstooperateatsoearlyanhour；itisunusualforburglarstostrikealadytopreventherscreaming，sinceonewouldimaginethatwasthesurewaytomakeherscream；itisunusualforthemtocommitmurderwhentheirnumbersaresufficienttooverpoweroneman；itisunusualforthemtobecontentwithalimitedplunderwhenthereismuchmorewithintheirreach；andfinallyIshouldsaythatitwasveryunusualforsuchmentoleaveabottlehalfempty。Howdoalltheseunusualsstrikeyou，Watson？\"
\"Theircumulativeeffectiscertainlyconsiderable，andyeteachofthemisquitepossibleinitself。Themostunusualthingofall，asitseemstome，isthattheladyshouldbetiedtothechair。\"
\"Well，Iamnotsoclearaboutthat，Watson；foritisevidentthattheymusteitherkillherorelsesecureherinsuchawaythatshecouldnotgiveimmediatenoticeoftheirescape。
ButatanyrateIhaveshown，haveInot，thatthereisacertainelementofimprobabilityaboutthelady’sstory？Andnowonthetopofthiscomestheincidentofthewine—glasses。\"
\"Whataboutthewine—glasses？\"
\"Canyouseetheminyourmind’seye？\"
\"Iseethemclearly。\"
\"Wearetoldthatthreemendrankfromthem。
Doesthatstrikeyouaslikely？\"
\"Whynot？Therewaswineineachglass。\"
\"Exactly；buttherewasbees—wingonlyinoneglass。Youmusthavenoticedthatfact。Whatdoesthatsuggesttoyourmind？\"
\"Thelastglassfilledwouldbemostlikelytocontainbees—wing。\"
\"Notatall。Thebottlewasfullofit，anditisinconceivablethatthefirsttwoglasseswereclearandthethirdheavilychargedwithit。Therearetwopossibleexplanations，andonlytwo。Oneisthatafterthesecondglasswasfilledthebottlewasviolentlyagitated，andsothethirdglassreceivedthebees—wing。Thatdoesnotappearprobable。No，no；IamsurethatIamright。\"
\"What，then，doyousuppose？\"
\"Thatonlytwoglasseswereused，andthatthedregsofbothwerepouredintoathirdglass，soastogivethefalseimpressionthatthreepeoplehadbeenhere。Inthatwayallthebees—wingwouldbeinthelastglass，woulditnot？Yes，Iamconvincedthatthisisso。ButifIhavehituponthetrueexplanationofthisonesmallphenomenon，theninaninstantthecaserisesfromthecommonplacetotheexceedinglyremarkable，foritcanonlymeanthatLadyBrackenstallandhermaidhavedeliberatelyliedtous，thatnotonewordoftheirstoryistobebelieved，thattheyhavesomeverystrongreasonforcoveringtherealcriminal，andthatwemustconstructourcaseforourselveswithoutanyhelpfromthem。Thatisthemissionwhichnowliesbeforeus，andhere，Watson，istheChislehursttrain。\"
ThehouseholdoftheAbbeyGrangeweremuchsurprisedatourreturn，butSherlockHolmes，findingthatStanleyHopkinshadgoneofftoreporttohead—quarters，tookpossessionofthedining—room，lockedthedoorupontheinside，anddevotedhimselffortwohourstooneofthoseminuteandlaboriousinvestigationswhichformedthesolidbasisonwhichhisbrilliantedificesofdeductionwerereared。Seatedinacornerlikeaninterestedstudentwhoobservesthedemonstrationofhisprofessor，Ifollowedeverystepofthatremarkableresearch。
Thewindow，thecurtains，thecarpet，thechair，therope——eachinturnwasminutelyexaminedanddulypondered。Thebodyoftheunfortunatebaronethadbeenremoved，butallelseremainedaswehadseenitinthemorning。Then，tomyastonishment，Holmesclimbedupontothemassivemantelpiece。Farabovehisheadhungthefewinchesofredcordwhichwerestillattachedtothewire。Foralongtimehegazedupwardatit，andtheninanattempttogetnearertoitherestedhiskneeuponawoodenbracketonthewall。Thisbroughthishandwithinafewinchesofthebrokenendoftherope，butitwasnotthissomuchasthebracketitselfwhichseemedtoengagehisattention。
Finallyhesprangdownwithanejaculationofsatisfaction。
\"It’sallright，Watson，\"saidhe。\"Wehavegotourcase——
oneofthemostremarkableinourcollection。But，dearme，howslow—wittedIhavebeen，andhownearlyIhavecommittedtheblunderofmylifetime！Now，Ithinkthatwithafewmissinglinksmychainisalmostcomplete。\"
\"Youhavegotyourmen？\"
\"Man，Watson，man。Onlyone，butaveryformidableperson。
Strongasalion——witnesstheblowthatbentthatpoker。
Sixfootthreeinheight，activeasasquirrel，dexterouswithhisfingers；finally，remarkablyquick—witted，forthiswholeingeniousstoryisofhisconcoction。Yes，Watson，wehavecomeuponthehandiworkofaveryremarkableindividual。
Andyetinthatbell—ropehehasgivenusacluewhichshouldnothaveleftusadoubt。\"
\"Wherewastheclue？\"
\"Well，ifyouweretopulldownabell—rope，Watson，wherewouldyouexpectittobreak？Surelyatthespotwhereitisattachedtothewire。Whyshoulditbreakthreeinchesfromthetopasthisonehasdone？\"
\"Becauseitisfrayedthere？\"
\"Exactly。Thisend，whichwecanexamine，isfrayed。Hewascunningenoughtodothatwithhisknife。Buttheotherendisnotfrayed。Youcouldnotobservethatfromhere，butifyouwereonthemantelpieceyouwouldseethatitiscutcleanoffwithoutanymarkoffrayingwhatever。Youcanreconstructwhatoccurred。Themanneededtherope。Hewouldnottearitdownforfearofgivingthealarmbyringingthebell。Whatdidhedo？
Hespranguponthemantelpiece，couldnotquitereachit，puthiskneeonthebracket——youwillseetheimpressioninthedust——andsogothisknifetobearuponthecord。Icouldnotreachtheplacebyatleastthreeinches，fromwhichIinferthatheisatleastthreeinchesabiggermanthanI。Lookatthatmarkupontheseatoftheoakenchair！Whatisit？\"
\"Blood。\"
\"Undoubtedlyitisblood。Thisaloneputsthelady’sstoryoutofcourt。Ifshewereseatedonthechairwhenthecrimewasdone，howcomesthatmark？No，no；shewasplacedinthechairAFTERthedeathofherhusband。I’llwagerthattheblackdressshowsacorrespondingmarktothis。WehavenotyetmetourWaterloo，Watson，butthisisourMarengo，foritbeginsindefeatandendsinvictory。IshouldlikenowtohaveafewwordswiththenurseTheresa。Wemustbewaryforawhile，ifwearetogettheinformationwhichwewant。\"
Shewasaninterestingperson，thissternAustraliannurse。
Taciturn，suspicious，ungracious，ittooksometimebeforeHolmes’spleasantmannerandfrankacceptanceofallthatshesaidthawedherintoacorrespondingamiability。Shedidnotattempttoconcealherhatredforherlateemployer。
\"Yes，sir，itistruethathethrewthedecanteratme。
Iheardhimcallmymistressaname，andItoldhimthathewouldnotdaretospeaksoifherbrotherhadbeenthere。
Thenitwasthathethrewitatme。Hemighthavethrownadozenifhehadbutleftmybonnybirdalone。Hewasforeverilltreatingher，andshetooproudtocomplain。Shewillnoteventellmeallthathehasdonetoher。Shenevertoldmeofthosemarksonherarmthatyousawthismorning，butIknowverywellthattheycomefromastabwithahat—pin。
Theslyfiend——HeavenforgivemethatIshouldspeakofhimso，nowthatheisdead，butafiendhewasifeveronewalkedtheearth。
Hewasallhoneywhenfirstwemethim，onlyeighteenmonthsago，andwebothfeelasifitwereeighteenyears。ShehadonlyjustarrivedinLondon。Yes，itwasherfirstvoyage——shehadneverbeenfromhomebefore。HewonherwithhistitleandhismoneyandhisfalseLondonways。Ifshemadeamistakeshehaspaidforit，ifeverawomandid。Whatmonthdidwemeethim？Well，Itellyouitwasjustafterwearrived。WearrivedinJune，anditwasJuly。TheyweremarriedinJanuaryoflastyear。
Yes，sheisdowninthemorning—roomagain，andIhavenodoubtshewillseeyou，butyoumustnotasktoomuchofher，forshehasgonethroughallthatfleshandbloodwillstand。\"
LadyBrackenstallwasrecliningonthesamecouch，butlookedbrighterthanbefore。Themaidhadenteredwithus，andbeganoncemoretofomentthebruiseuponhermistress’sbrow。
\"Ihope，\"saidthelady，\"thatyouhavenotcometocross—examinemeagain？\"
\"No，\"Holmesanswered，inhisgentlestvoice，\"Iwillnotcauseyouanyunnecessarytrouble，LadyBrackenstall，andmywholedesireistomakethingseasyforyou，forIamconvincedthatyouareamuch—triedwoman。IfyouwilltreatmeasafriendandtrustmeyoumayfindthatIwilljustifyyourtrust。\"
\"Whatdoyouwantmetodo？\"
\"Totellmethetruth。\"
\"Mr。Holmes！\"