Duringthefirstweekorsowehadnocallers，andIhadbeguntothinkthatmycompanionwasasfriendlessamanasIwasmyself。Presently，however，Ifoundthathehadmanyacquaintances，andthoseinthemostdifferentclassesofsociety。Therewasonelittlesallowrat-faced，dark-eyedfellowwhowasintroducedtomeasMr。Lestrade，andwhocamethreeorfourtimesinasingleweek。Onemorningayounggirlcalled，fashionablydressed，andstayedforhalfanhourormore。
Thesameafternoonbroughtagrey-headed，seedyvisitor，lookinglikeaJewpedlar，whoappearedtometobemuchexcited，andwhowascloselyfollowedbyaslip-shodelderlywoman。Onanotheroccasionanoldwhite-hairedgentlemanhadaninterviewwithmycompanion；andonanotherarailwayporterinhisvelveteenuniform。Whenanyofthesenondescriptindividualsputinanappearance，SherlockHolmesusedtobegfortheuseofthesitting-room，andIwouldretiretomybed-room。Healwaysapologizedtomeforputtingmetothisinconvenience。\"Ihavetousethisroomasaplaceofbusiness，\"hesaid，\"andthesepeoplearemyclients。\"AgainIhadanopportunityofaskinghimapointblankquestion，andagainmydelicacypreventedmefromforcinganothermantoconfideinme。Iimaginedatthetimethathehadsomestrongreasonfornotalludingtoit，buthesoondispelledtheideabycomingroundtothesubjectofhisownaccord。
Itwasuponthe4thofMarch，asIhavegoodreasontoremember，thatIrosesomewhatearlierthanusual，andfoundthatSherlockHolmeshadnotyetfinishedhisbreakfast。Thelandladyhadbecomesoaccustomedtomylatehabitsthatmyplacehadnotbeenlaidnormycoffeeprepared。WiththeunreasonablepetulanceofmankindIrangthebellandgaveacurtintimationthatIwasready。ThenIpickedupamagazinefromthetableandattemptedtowhileawaythetimewithit，whilemycompanionmunchedsilentlyathistoast。Oneofthearticleshadapencilmarkattheheading，andInaturallybegantorunmyeyethroughit。
Itssomewhatambitioustitlewas\"TheBookofLife，\"anditattemptedtoshowhowmuchanobservantmanmightlearnbyanaccurateandsystematicexaminationofallthatcameinhisway。Itstruckmeasbeingaremarkablemixtureofshrewdnessandofabsurdity。Thereasoningwascloseandintense，butthedeductionsappearedtometobefar-fetchedandexaggerated。Thewriterclaimedbyamomentaryexpression，atwitchofamuscleoraglanceofaneye，tofathomaman\'sinmostthoughts。Deceit，accordingtohim，wasanimpossibilityinthecaseofonetrainedtoobservationandanalysis。
HisconclusionswereasinfallibleassomanypropositionsofEuclid。Sostartlingwouldhisresultsappeartotheuninitiatedthatuntiltheylearnedtheprocessesbywhichhehadarrivedatthemtheymightwellconsiderhimasanecromancer。
\"Fromadropofwater，\"saidthewriter，\"alogiciancouldinferthepossibilityofanAtlanticoraNiagarawithouthavingseenorheardofoneortheother。Soalllifeisagreatchain，thenatureofwhichisknownwheneverweareshownasinglelinkofit。Likeallotherarts，theScienceofDeductionandAnalysisisonewhichcanonlybeacquiredbylongandpatientstudynorislifelongenoughtoallowanymortaltoattainthehighestpossibleperfectioninit。
Beforeturningtothosemoralandmentalaspectsofthematterwhichpresentthegreatestdifficulties，lettheenquirerbeginbymasteringmoreelementaryproblems。
Lethim，onmeetingafellow-mortal，learnataglancetodistinguishthehistoryoftheman，andthetradeorprofessiontowhichhebelongs。Puerileassuchanexercisemayseem，itsharpensthefacultiesofobservation，andteachesonewheretolookandwhattolookfor。Byaman\'sfingernails，byhiscoat-sleeve，byhisboot，byhistrouserknees，bythecallositiesofhisforefingerandthumb，byhisexpression，byhisshirtcuffs——byeachofthesethingsaman\'scallingisplainlyrevealed。Thatallunitedshouldfailtoenlightenthecompetentenquirerinanycaseisalmostinconceivable。\"
\"Whatineffabletwaddle!\"Icried，slappingthemagazinedownonthetable，\"Ineverreadsuchrubbishinmylife。\"
\"Whatisit?\"askedSherlockHolmes。
\"Why，thisarticle，\"Isaid，pointingatitwithmyeggspoonasIsatdowntomybreakfast。\"Iseethatyouhavereaditsinceyouhavemarkedit。Idon\'tdenythatitissmartlywritten。Itirritatesmethough。Itisevidentlythetheoryofsomearm-chairloungerwhoevolvesalltheseneatlittleparadoxesintheseclusionofhisownstudy。Itisnotpractical。IshouldliketoseehimclappeddowninathirdclasscarriageontheUnderground，andaskedtogivethetradesofallhisfellow-travellers。Iwouldlayathousandtooneagainsthim。\"
\"Youwouldloseyourmoney，\"SherlockHolmesremarkedcalmly。
\"AsforthearticleIwroteitmyself。\"
\"You!\"
\"Yes，Ihaveaturnbothforobservationandfordeduction。
ThetheorieswhichIhaveexpressedthere，andwhichappeartoyoutobesochimericalarereallyextremelypractical——
sopracticalthatIdependuponthemformybreadandcheese。\"
\"Andhow?\"Iaskedinvoluntarily。
\"Well，Ihaveatradeofmyown。IsupposeIamtheonlyoneintheworld。I\'maconsultingdetective，ifyoucanunderstandwhatthatis。HereinLondonwehavelotsofGovernmentdetectivesandlotsofprivateones。Whenthesefellowsareatfaulttheycometome，andImanagetoputthemontherightscent。Theylayalltheevidencebeforeme，andIamgenerallyable，bythehelpofmyknowledgeofthehistoryofcrime，tosetthemstraight。Thereisastrongfamilyresemblanceaboutmisdeeds，andifyouhaveallthedetailsofathousandatyourfingerends，itisoddifyoucan\'tunravelthethousandandfirst。Lestradeisawell-knowndetective。Hegothimselfintoafogrecentlyoveraforgerycase，andthatwaswhatbroughthimhere。\"
\"Andtheseotherpeople?\"
\"Theyaremostlysentonbyprivateinquiryagencies。
Theyareallpeoplewhoareintroubleaboutsomething，andwantalittleenlightening。Ilistentotheirstory，theylistentomycomments，andthenIpocketmyfee。\"
\"Butdoyoumeantosay，\"Isaid，\"thatwithoutleavingyourroomyoucanunravelsomeknotwhichothermencanmakenothingof，althoughtheyhaveseeneverydetailforthemselves?\"
\"Quiteso。Ihaveakindofintuitionthatway。
Nowandagainacaseturnsupwhichisalittlemorecomplex。
ThenIhavetobustleaboutandseethingswithmyowneyes。
YouseeIhavealotofspecialknowledgewhichIapplytotheproblem，andwhichfacilitatesmatterswonderfully。
Thoserulesofdeductionlaiddowninthatarticlewhicharousedyourscorn，areinvaluabletomeinpracticalwork。
Observationwithmeissecondnature。YouappearedtobesurprisedwhenItoldyou，onourfirstmeeting，thatyouhadcomefromAfghanistan。\"
\"Youweretold，nodoubt。\"
\"Nothingofthesort。I_knew_youcamefromAfghanistan。
Fromlonghabitthetrainofthoughtsransoswiftlythroughmymind，thatIarrivedattheconclusionwithoutbeingconsciousofintermediatesteps。Thereweresuchsteps，however。Thetrainofreasoningran，`Hereisagentlemanofamedicaltype，butwiththeairofamilitaryman。Clearlyanarmydoctor，then。Hehasjustcomefromthetropics，forhisfaceisdark，andthatisnotthenaturaltintofhisskin，forhiswristsarefair。Hehasundergonehardshipandsickness，ashishaggardfacesaysclearly。Hisleftarmhasbeeninjured。Heholdsitinastiffandunnaturalmanner。
WhereinthetropicscouldanEnglisharmydoctorhaveseenmuchhardshipandgothisarmwounded?ClearlyinAfghanistan。\'
Thewholetrainofthoughtdidnotoccupyasecond。IthenremarkedthatyoucamefromAfghanistan，andyouwereastonished。\"
\"Itissimpleenoughasyouexplainit，\"Isaid，smiling。
\"YouremindmeofEdgarAllenPoe\'sDupin。Ihadnoideathatsuchindividualsdidexistoutsideofstories。\"
SherlockHolmesroseandlithispipe。\"NodoubtyouthinkthatyouarecomplimentingmeincomparingmetoDupin，\"
heobserved。\"Now，inmyopinion，Dupinwasaveryinferiorfellow。Thattrickofhisofbreakinginonhisfriends\'
thoughtswithanaproposremarkafteraquarterofanhour\'ssilenceisreallyveryshowyandsuperficial。Hehadsomeanalyticalgenius，nodoubt；buthewasbynomeanssuchaphenomenonasPoeappearedtoimagine。\"
\"HaveyoureadGaboriau\'sworks?\"Iasked。
\"DoesLecoqcomeuptoyourideaofadetective?\"
SherlockHolmessniffedsardonically。\"Lecoqwasamiserablebungler，\"hesaid，inanangryvoice；\"hehadonlyonethingtorecommendhim，andthatwashisenergy。Thatbookmademepositivelyill。Thequestionwashowtoidentifyanunknownprisoner。Icouldhavedoneitintwenty-fourhours。Lecoqtooksixmonthsorso。Itmightbemadeatext-bookfordetectivestoteachthemwhattoavoid。\"
IfeltratherindignantathavingtwocharacterswhomIhadadmiredtreatedinthiscavalierstyle。Iwalkedovertothewindow，andstoodlookingoutintothebusystreet。
\"Thisfellowmaybeveryclever，\"Isaidtomyself，\"butheiscertainlyveryconceited。\"
\"Therearenocrimesandnocriminalsinthesedays，\"hesaid，querulously。\"Whatistheuseofhavingbrainsinourprofession。IknowwellthatIhaveitinmetomakemynamefamous。NomanlivesorhaseverlivedwhohasbroughtthesameamountofstudyandofnaturaltalenttothedetectionofcrimewhichIhavedone。Andwhatistheresult?Thereisnocrimetodetect，or，atmost，somebunglingvillanywithamotivesotransparentthatevenaScotlandYardofficialcanseethroughit。\"
Iwasstillannoyedathisbumptiousstyleofconversation。
Ithoughtitbesttochangethetopic。
\"Iwonderwhatthatfellowislookingfor?\"Iasked，pointingtoastalwart，plainly-dressedindividualwhowaswalkingslowlydowntheothersideofthestreet，lookinganxiouslyatthenumbers。Hehadalargeblueenvelopeinhishand，andwasevidentlythebearerofamessage。
\"YoumeantheretiredsergeantofMarines，\"saidSherlockHolmes。
\"Bragandbounce!\"thoughtItomyself。\"HeknowsthatI
cannotverifyhisguess。\"
Thethoughthadhardlypassedthroughmymindwhenthemanwhomwewerewatchingcaughtsightofthenumberonourdoor，andranrapidlyacrosstheroadway。Weheardaloudknock，adeepvoicebelow，andheavystepsascendingthestair。
\"ForMr。SherlockHolmes，\"hesaid，steppingintotheroomandhandingmyfriendtheletter。
Herewasanopportunityoftakingtheconceitoutofhim。
Helittlethoughtofthiswhenhemadethatrandomshot。
\"MayIask，mylad，\"Isaid，intheblandestvoice，\"whatyourtrademaybe?\"
\"Commissionaire，sir，\"hesaid，gruffly。
\"Uniformawayforrepairs。\"
\"Andyouwere?\"Iasked，withaslightlymaliciousglanceatmycompanion。
\"Asergeant，sir，RoyalMarineLightInfantry，sir。
Noanswer?Right，sir。\"
Heclickedhisheelstogether，raisedhishandinasalute，andwasgone。
CHAPTERIII。
THELAURISTONGARDENMYSTERY
ICONFESSthatIwasconsiderablystartledbythisfreshproofofthepracticalnatureofmycompanion\'stheories。
Myrespectforhispowersofanalysisincreasedwondrously。
Therestillremainedsomelurkingsuspicioninmymind，however，thatthewholethingwasapre-arrangedepisode，intendedtodazzleme，thoughwhatearthlyobjecthecouldhaveintakingmeinwaspastmycomprehension。
WhenIlookedathimhehadfinishedreadingthenote，andhiseyeshadassumedthevacant，lack-lustreexpressionwhichshowedmentalabstraction。
\"Howintheworlddidyoudeducethat?\"Iasked。
\"Deducewhat?\"saidhe，petulantly。
\"Why，thathewasaretiredsergeantofMarines。\"
\"Ihavenotimefortrifles，\"heanswered，brusquely；
thenwithasmile，\"Excusemyrudeness。Youbrokethethreadofmythoughts；butperhapsitisaswell。SoyouactuallywerenotabletoseethatthatmanwasasergeantofMarines?\"
\"No，indeed。\"
\"ItwaseasiertoknowitthantoexplainwhyIknewit。
Ifyouwereaskedtoprovethattwoandtwomadefour，youmightfindsomedifficulty，andyetyouarequitesureofthefact。
EvenacrossthestreetIcouldseeagreatblueanchortattooedonthebackofthefellow\'shand。Thatsmackedofthesea。Hehadamilitarycarriage，however，andregulationsidewhiskers。Therewehavethemarine。Hewasamanwithsomeamountofself-importanceandacertainairofcommand。
Youmusthaveobservedthewayinwhichheheldhisheadandswunghiscane。Asteady，respectable，middle-agedman，too，onthefaceofhim——allfactswhichledmetobelievethathehadbeenasergeant。\"
\"Wonderful!\"Iejaculated。
\"Commonplace，\"saidHolmes，thoughIthoughtfromhisexpressionthathewaspleasedatmyevidentsurpriseandadmiration。\"Isaidjustnowthattherewerenocriminals。
ItappearsthatIamwrong——lookatthis!\"Hethrewmeoverthenotewhichthecommissionairehadbrought。\"{7}
\"Why，\"Icried，asIcastmyeyeoverit，\"thisisterrible!\"
\"Itdoesseemtobealittleoutofthecommon，\"heremarked，calmly。\"Wouldyoumindreadingittomealoud?\"
ThisistheletterwhichIreadtohim——
\"MYDEARMR。SHERLOCKHOLMES，——\"Therehasbeenabadbusinessduringthenightat3，LauristonGardens，offtheBrixtonRoad。Ourmanonthebeatsawalightthereabouttwointhemorning，andasthehousewasanemptyone，suspectedthatsomethingwasamiss。Hefoundthedooropen，andinthefrontroom，whichisbareoffurniture，discoveredthebodyofagentleman，welldressed，andhavingcardsinhispocketbearingthenameof`EnochJ。Drebber，Cleveland，Ohio，U。S。A。\'Therehadbeennorobbery，noristhereanyevidenceastohowthemanmethisdeath。Therearemarksofbloodintheroom，butthereisnowounduponhisperson。
Weareatalossastohowhecameintotheemptyhouse；
indeed，thewholeaffairisapuzzler。Ifyoucancomeroundtothehouseanytimebeforetwelve，youwillfindmethere。
Ihavelefteverything_instatuquo_untilIhearfromyou。
IfyouareunabletocomeIshallgiveyoufullerdetails，andwouldesteemitagreatkindnessifyouwouldfavourmewithyouropinion。Yoursfaithfully，\"TOBIASGREGSON。\"
\"GregsonisthesmartestoftheScotlandYarders，\"
myfriendremarked；\"heandLestradearethepickofabadlot。
Theyarebothquickandenergetic，butconventional——shockinglyso。Theyhavetheirknivesintooneanother，too。Theyareasjealousasapairofprofessionalbeauties。Therewillbesomefunoverthiscaseiftheyarebothputuponthescent。\"
Iwasamazedatthecalmwayinwhichherippledon。
\"Surelythereisnotamomenttobelost，\"Icried，\"shallIgoandorderyouacab?\"
\"I\'mnotsureaboutwhetherIshallgo。Iamthemostincurablylazydevilthateverstoodinshoeleather——thatis，whenthefitisonme，forIcanbespryenoughattimes。\"
\"Why，itisjustsuchachanceasyouhavebeenlongingfor。\"
\"Mydearfellow，whatdoesitmattertome。
SupposingIunravelthewholematter，youmaybesurethatGregson，Lestrade，andCo。willpocketallthecredit。
Thatcomesofbeinganunofficialpersonage。\"
\"Buthebegsyoutohelphim。\"
\"Yes。HeknowsthatIamhissuperior，andacknowledgesittome；buthewouldcuthistongueoutbeforehewouldownittoanythirdperson。However，wemayaswellgoandhavealook。Ishallworkitoutonmyownhook。ImayhavealaughatthemifIhavenothingelse。Comeon!\"
Hehustledonhisovercoat，andbustledaboutinawaythatshowedthatanenergeticfithadsupersededtheapatheticone。
\"Getyourhat，\"hesaid。
\"Youwishmetocome?\"
\"Yes，ifyouhavenothingbettertodo。\"Aminutelaterwewerebothinahansom，drivingfuriouslyfortheBrixtonRoad。
Itwasafoggy，cloudymorning，andadun-colouredveilhungoverthehouse-tops，lookinglikethereflectionofthemud-colouredstreetsbeneath。Mycompanionwasinthebestofspirits，andprattledawayaboutCremonafiddles，andthedifferencebetweenaStradivariusandanAmati。Asformyself，Iwassilent，forthedullweatherandthemelancholybusinessuponwhichwewereengaged，depressedmyspirits。
\"Youdon\'tseemtogivemuchthoughttothematterinhand，\"
Isaidatlast，interruptingHolmes\'musicaldisquisition。
\"Nodatayet，\"heanswered。\"Itisacapitalmistaketotheorizebeforeyouhavealltheevidence。Itbiasesthejudgment。\"
\"Youwillhaveyourdatasoon，\"Iremarked，pointingwithmyfinger；\"thisistheBrixtonRoad，andthatisthehouse，ifIamnotverymuchmistaken。\"
\"Soitis。Stop，driver，stop!\"Wewerestillahundredyardsorsofromit，butheinsisteduponouralighting，andwefinishedourjourneyuponfoot。
Number3，LauristonGardensworeanill-omenedandminatorylook。
Itwasoneoffourwhichstoodbacksomelittlewayfromthestreet，twobeingoccupiedandtwoempty。Thelatterlookedoutwiththreetiersofvacantmelancholywindows，whichwereblankanddreary，savethathereandtherea\"ToLet\"cardhaddevelopedlikeacataractupontheblearedpanes。Asmallgardensprinkledoverwithascatterederuptionofsicklyplantsseparatedeachofthesehousesfromthestreet，andwastraversedbyanarrowpathway，yellowishincolour，andconsistingapparentlyofamixtureofclayandofgravel。Thewholeplacewasverysloppyfromtherainwhichhadfallenthroughthenight。
Thegardenwasboundedbyathree-footbrickwallwithafringeofwoodrailsuponthetop，andagainstthiswallwasleaningastalwartpoliceconstable，surroundedbyasmallknotofloafers，whocranedtheirnecksandstrainedtheireyesinthevainhopeofcatchingsomeglimpseoftheproceedingswithin。
IhadimaginedthatSherlockHolmeswouldatoncehavehurriedintothehouseandplungedintoastudyofthemystery。Nothingappearedtobefurtherfromhisintention。
Withanairofnonchalancewhich，underthecircumstances，seemedtometoborderuponaffectation，heloungedupanddownthepavement，andgazedvacantlyattheground，thesky，theoppositehousesandthelineofrailings。Havingfinishedhisscrutiny，heproceededslowlydownthepath，orratherdownthefringeofgrasswhichflankedthepath，keepinghiseyesrivetedupontheground。Twicehestopped，andonceIsawhimsmile，andheardhimutteranexclamationofsatisfaction。Thereweremanymarksoffootstepsuponthewetclayeysoil，butsincethepolicehadbeencomingandgoingoverit，Iwasunabletoseehowmycompanioncouldhopetolearnanythingfromit。StillIhadhadsuchextraordinaryevidenceofthequicknessofhisperceptivefaculties，thatIhadnodoubtthathecouldseeagreatdealwhichwashiddenfromme。
Atthedoorofthehouseweweremetbyatall，white-faced，flaxen-hairedman，withanotebookinhishand，whorushedforwardandwrungmycompanion\'shandwitheffusion。
\"Itisindeedkindofyoutocome，\"hesaid，\"Ihavehadeverythingleftuntouched。\"
\"Exceptthat!\"myfriendanswered，pointingatthepathway。
\"Ifaherdofbuffaloeshadpassedalongtherecouldnotbeagreatermess。Nodoubt，however，youhaddrawnyourownconclusions，Gregson，beforeyoupermittedthis。\"
\"Ihavehadsomuchtodoinsidethehouse，\"thedetectivesaidevasively。\"Mycolleague，Mr。Lestrade，ishere。
Ihadrelieduponhimtolookafterthis。\"
Holmesglancedatmeandraisedhiseyebrowssardonically。
\"WithtwosuchmenasyourselfandLestradeupontheground，therewillnotbemuchforathirdpartytofindout，\"hesaid。
Gregsonrubbedhishandsinaself-satisfiedway。
\"Ithinkwehavedoneallthatcanbedone，\"heanswered；
\"it\'saqueercasethough，andIknewyourtasteforsuchthings。\"
\"Youdidnotcomehereinacab?\"askedSherlockHolmes。
\"No，sir。\"
\"NorLestrade?\"
\"No，sir。\"
\"Thenletusgoandlookattheroom。\"Withwhichinconsequentremarkhestrodeonintothehouse，followedbyGregson，whosefeaturesexpressedhisastonishment。
Ashortpassage，bareplankedanddusty，ledtothekitchenandoffices。Twodoorsopenedoutofittotheleftandtotheright。Oneofthesehadobviouslybeenclosedformanyweeks。Theotherbelongedtothedining-room，whichwastheapartmentinwhichthemysteriousaffairhadoccurred。
Holmeswalkedin，andIfollowedhimwiththatsubduedfeelingatmyheartwhichthepresenceofdeathinspires。
Itwasalargesquareroom，lookingallthelargerfromtheabsenceofallfurniture。Avulgarflaringpaperadornedthewalls，butitwasblotchedinplaceswithmildew，andhereandtheregreatstripshadbecomedetachedandhungdown，exposingtheyellowplasterbeneath。Oppositethedoorwasashowyfireplace，surmountedbyamantelpieceofimitationwhitemarble。Ononecornerofthiswasstuckthestumpofaredwaxcandle。Thesolitarywindowwassodirtythatthelightwashazyanduncertain，givingadullgreytingetoeverything，whichwasintensifiedbythethicklayerofdustwhichcoatedthewholeapartment。
AllthesedetailsIobservedafterwards。Atpresentmyattentionwascentreduponthesinglegrimmotionlessfigurewhichlaystretchedupontheboards，withvacantsightlesseyesstaringupatthediscolouredceiling。Itwasthatofamanaboutforty-threeorforty-fouryearsofage，middle-sized，broadshouldered，withcrispcurlingblackhair，andashortstubblybeard。Hewasdressedinaheavybroadclothfrockcoatandwaistcoat，withlight-colouredtrousers，andimmaculatecollarandcuffs。Atophat，wellbrushedandtrim，wasplaceduponthefloorbesidehim。Hishandswereclenchedandhisarmsthrownabroad，whilehislowerlimbswereinterlockedasthoughhisdeathstrugglehadbeenagrievousone。Onhisrigidfacetherestoodanexpressionofhorror，andasitseemedtome，ofhatred，suchasIhaveneverseenuponhumanfeatures。Thismalignantandterriblecontortion，combinedwiththelowforehead，bluntnose，andprognathousjawgavethedeadmanasingularlysimiousandape-likeappearance，whichwasincreasedbyhiswrithing，unnaturalposture。Ihaveseendeathinmanyforms，butneverhasitappearedtomeinamorefearsomeaspectthaninthatdarkgrimyapartment，whichlookedoutupononeofthemainarteriesofsuburbanLondon。
Lestrade，leanandferret-likeasever，wasstandingbythedoorway，andgreetedmycompanionandmyself。
\"Thiscasewillmakeastir，sir，\"heremarked。
\"ItbeatsanythingIhaveseen，andIamnochicken。\"
\"Thereisnoclue?\"saidGregson。
\"Noneatall，\"chimedinLestrade。
SherlockHolmesapproachedthebody，and，kneelingdown，examineditintently。\"Youaresurethatthereisnowound?\"
heasked，pointingtonumerousgoutsandsplashesofbloodwhichlayallround。
\"Positive!\"criedbothdetectives。
\"Then，ofcourse，thisbloodbelongstoasecondindividual——{8}
presumablythemurderer，ifmurderhasbeencommitted。
ItremindsmeofthecircumstancesattendantonthedeathofVanJansen，inUtrecht，intheyear\'34。Doyourememberthecase，Gregson?\"
\"No，sir。\"
\"Readitup——youreallyshould。Thereisnothingnewunderthesun。Ithasallbeendonebefore。\"
Ashespoke，hisnimblefingerswereflyinghere，there，andeverywhere，feeling，pressing，unbuttoning，examining，whilehiseyesworethesamefar-awayexpressionwhichIhavealreadyremarkedupon。Soswiftlywastheexaminationmade，thatonewouldhardlyhaveguessedtheminutenesswithwhichitwasconducted。Finally，hesniffedthedeadman\'slips，andthenglancedatthesolesofhispatentleatherboots。
\"Hehasnotbeenmovedatall?\"heasked。
\"Nomorethanwasnecessaryforthepurposesofourexamination。\"
\"Youcantakehimtothemortuarynow，\"hesaid。
\"Thereisnothingmoretobelearned。\"
Gregsonhadastretcherandfourmenathand。Athiscalltheyenteredtheroom，andthestrangerwasliftedandcarriedout。Astheyraisedhim，aringtinkleddownandrolledacrossthefloor。Lestradegrabbeditupandstaredatitwithmystifiedeyes。
\"There\'sbeenawomanhere，\"hecried。\"It\'sawoman\'swedding-ring。\"
Hehelditout，ashespoke，uponthepalmofhishand。
Weallgatheredroundhimandgazedatit。Therecouldbenodoubtthatthatcircletofplaingoldhadonceadornedthefingerofabride。
\"Thiscomplicatesmatters，\"saidGregson。\"Heavenknows，theywerecomplicatedenoughbefore。\"
\"You\'resureitdoesn\'tsimplifythem?\"observedHolmes。
\"There\'snothingtobelearnedbystaringatit。
Whatdidyoufindinhispockets?\"
\"Wehaveitallhere，\"saidGregson，pointingtoalitterofobjectsupononeofthebottomstepsofthestairs。
\"Agoldwatch，No。97163，byBarraud，ofLondon。GoldAlbertchain，veryheavyandsolid。Goldring，withmasonicdevice。
Goldpin——bull-dog\'shead，withrubiesaseyes。
Russianleathercard-case，withcardsofEnochJ。DrebberofCleveland，correspondingwiththeE。J。D。uponthelinen。
Nopurse，butloosemoneytotheextentofsevenpoundsthirteen。
PocketeditionofBoccaccio\'s`Decameron，\'withnameofJosephStangersonuponthefly-leaf。Twoletters——oneaddressedtoE。J。DrebberandonetoJosephStangerson。\"
\"Atwhataddress?\"
\"AmericanExchange，Strand——tobelefttillcalledfor。
TheyarebothfromtheGuionSteamshipCompany，andrefertothesailingoftheirboatsfromLiverpool。ItisclearthatthisunfortunatemanwasabouttoreturntoNewYork。\"
\"Haveyoumadeanyinquiriesastothisman，Stangerson?\"
\"Ididitatonce，sir，\"saidGregson。\"Ihavehadadvertisementssenttoallthenewspapers，andoneofmymenhasgonetotheAmericanExchange，buthehasnotreturnedyet。\"
\"HaveyousenttoCleveland?\"
\"Wetelegraphedthismorning。\"