Hewentin，leavingwordthatIshouldwaitforhim。Thereheremaineduntilclosingtime，andwhenhecameouthewassofargonethatIknewthegamewasinmyownhands。
\"Don\'timaginethatIintendedtokillhimincoldblood。
ItwouldonlyhavebeenrigidjusticeifIhaddoneso，butIcouldnotbringmyselftodoit。Ihadlongdeterminedthatheshouldhaveashowforhislifeifhechosetotakeadvantageofit。AmongthemanybilletswhichIhavefilledinAmericaduringmywanderinglife，IwasoncejanitorandsweeperoutofthelaboratoryatYorkCollege。Onedaytheprofessorwaslecturingonpoisions，{25}andheshowedhisstudentssomealkaloid，ashecalledit，whichhehadextractedfromsomeSouthAmericanarrowpoison，andwhichwassopowerfulthattheleastgrainmeantinstantdeath。
Ispottedthebottleinwhichthispreparationwaskept，andwhentheywereallgone，Ihelpedmyselftoalittleofit。
Iwasafairlygooddispenser，soIworkedthisalkaloidintosmall，solublepills，andeachpillIputinaboxwithasimilarpillmadewithoutthepoison。IdeterminedatthetimethatwhenIhadmychance，mygentlemenshouldeachhaveadrawoutofoneoftheseboxes，whileIatethepillthatremained。Itwouldbequiteasdeadly，andagooddeallessnoisythanfiringacrossahandkerchief。FromthatdayIhadalwaysmypillboxesaboutwithme，andthetimehadnowcomewhenIwastousethem。
\"Itwasneareronethantwelve，andawild，bleaknight，blowinghardandrainingintorrents。Dismalasitwasoutside，Iwasgladwithin——sogladthatIcouldhaveshoutedoutfrompureexultation。Ifanyofyougentlemenhaveeverpinedforathing，andlongedforitduringtwentylongyears，andthensuddenlyfounditwithinyourreach，youwouldunderstandmyfeelings。Ilitacigar，andpuffedatittosteadymynerves，butmyhandsweretrembling，andmytemplesthrobbingwithexcitement。AsIdrove，IcouldseeoldJohnFerrierandsweetLucylookingatmeoutofthedarknessandsmilingatme，justasplainasIseeyouallinthisroom。Allthewaytheywereaheadofme，oneoneachsideofthehorseuntilIpulledupatthehouseintheBrixtonRoad。
\"Therewasnotasoultobeseen，norasoundtobeheard，exceptthedrippingoftherain。WhenIlookedinatthewindow，IfoundDrebberallhuddledtogetherinadrunkensleep。
Ishookhimbythearm，`It\'stimetogetout，\'Isaid。
\"`Allright，cabby，\'saidhe。
\"Isupposehethoughtwehadcometothehotelthathehadmentioned，forhegotoutwithoutanotherword，andfollowedmedownthegarden。Ihadtowalkbesidehimtokeephimsteady，forhewasstillalittletop-heavy。Whenwecametothedoor，Iopenedit，andledhimintothefrontroom。
Igiveyoumywordthatalltheway，thefatherandthedaughterwerewalkinginfrontofus。
\"`It\'sinfernallydark，\'saidhe，stampingabout。
\"`We\'llsoonhavealight，\'Isaid，strikingamatchandputtingittoawaxcandlewhichIhadbroughtwithme。
`Now，EnochDrebber，\'Icontinued，turningtohim，andholdingthelighttomyownface，`whoamI?\'
\"Hegazedatmewithbleared，drunkeneyesforamoment，andthenIsawahorrorspringupinthem，andconvulsehiswholefeatures，whichshowedmethatheknewme。Hestaggeredbackwithalividface，andIsawtheperspirationbreakoutuponhisbrow，whilehisteethchatteredinhishead。Atthesight，Ileanedmybackagainstthedoorandlaughedloudandlong。Ihadalwaysknownthatvengeancewouldbesweet，butIhadneverhopedforthecontentmentofsoulwhichnowpossessedme。
\"`Youdog!\'Isaid；`IhavehuntedyoufromSaltLakeCitytoSt。Petersburg，andyouhavealwaysescapedme。Now，atlastyourwanderingshavecometoanend，foreitheryouorI
shallneverseeto-morrow\'ssunrise。\'HeshrunkstillfurtherawayasIspoke，andIcouldseeonhisfacethathethoughtIwasmad。SoIwasforthetime。Thepulsesinmytemplesbeatlikesledge-hammers，andIbelieveIwouldhavehadafitofsomesortifthebloodhadnotgushedfrommynoseandrelievedme。
\"`WhatdoyouthinkofLucyFerriernow?\'Icried，lockingthedoor，andshakingthekeyinhisface。`Punishmenthasbeenslowincoming，butithasovertakenyouatlast。\'
IsawhiscowardlipstrembleasIspoke。Hewouldhavebeggedforhislife，butheknewwellthatitwasuseless。
\"`Wouldyoumurderme?\'hestammered。
\"`Thereisnomurder，\'Ianswered。`Whotalksofmurderingamaddog?Whatmercyhadyouuponmypoordarling，whenyoudraggedherfromherslaughteredfather，andboreherawaytoyouraccursedandshamelessharem。\'
\"`ItwasnotIwhokilledherfather，\'hecried。
\"`Butitwasyouwhobrokeherinnocentheart，\'Ishrieked，thrustingtheboxbeforehim。`LetthehighGodjudgebetweenus。Chooseandeat。Thereisdeathinoneandlifeintheother。Ishalltakewhatyouleave。Letusseeifthereisjusticeupontheearth，orifweareruledbychance。\'
\"Hecoweredawaywithwildcriesandprayersformercy，butI
drewmyknifeandheldittohisthroatuntilhehadobeyedme。ThenIswallowedtheother，andwestoodfacingoneanotherinsilenceforaminuteormore，waitingtoseewhichwastoliveandwhichwastodie。ShallIeverforgetthelookwhichcameoverhisfacewhenthefirstwarningpangstoldhimthatthepoisonwasinhissystem?IlaughedasI
sawit，andheldLucy\'smarriageringinfrontofhiseyes。
Itwasbutforamoment，fortheactionofthealkaloidisrapid。Aspasmofpaincontortedhisfeatures；hethrewhishandsoutinfrontofhim，staggered，andthen，withahoarsecry，fellheavilyuponthefloor。Iturnedhimoverwithmyfoot，andplacedmyhanduponhisheart。Therewasnomovement。Hewasdead!
\"Thebloodhadbeenstreamingfrommynose，butIhadtakennonoticeofit。Idon\'tknowwhatitwasthatputitintomyheadtowriteuponthewallwithit。Perhapsitwassomemischievousideaofsettingthepoliceuponawrongtrack，forIfeltlight-heartedandcheerful。IrememberedaGermanbeingfoundinNewYorkwithRACHEwrittenupabovehim，anditwasarguedatthetimeinthenewspapersthatthesecretsocietiesmusthavedoneit。IguessedthatwhatpuzzledtheNewYorkerswouldpuzzletheLondoners，soIdippedmyfingerinmyownbloodandprinteditonaconvenientplaceonthewall。ThenIwalkeddowntomycabandfoundthattherewasnobodyabout，andthatthenightwasstillverywild。IhaddrivensomedistancewhenIputmyhandintothepocketinwhichIusuallykeptLucy\'sring，andfoundthatitwasnotthere。Iwasthunderstruckatthis，foritwastheonlymementothatIhadofher。ThinkingthatImighthavedroppeditwhenIstoopedoverDrebber\'sbody，Idroveback，andleavingmycabinasidestreet，Iwentboldlyuptothehouse——forIwasreadytodareanythingratherthanlosethering。WhenIarrivedthere，Iwalkedrightintothearmsofapolice-officerwhowascomingout，andonlymanagedtodisarmhissuspicionsbypretendingtobehopelesslydrunk。
\"ThatwashowEnochDrebbercametohisend。AllIhadtodothenwastodoasmuchforStangerson，andsopayoffJohnFerrier\'sdebt。IknewthathewasstayingatHalliday\'sPrivateHotel，andIhungaboutallday，buthenevercameout。{26}fancythathesuspectedsomethingwhenDrebberfailedtoputinanappearance。Hewascunning，wasStangerson，andalwaysonhisguard。Ifhethoughthecouldkeepmeoffbystayingindoorshewasverymuchmistaken。
Isoonfoundoutwhichwasthewindowofhisbedroom，andearlynextmorningItookadvantageofsomeladderswhichwerelyinginthelanebehindthehotel，andsomademywayintohisroominthegreyofthedawn。Iwokehimupandtoldhimthatthehourhadcomewhenhewastoanswerforthelifehehadtakensolongbefore。IdescribedDrebber\'sdeathtohim，andIgavehimthesamechoiceofthepoisonedpills。
Insteadofgraspingatthechanceofsafetywhichthatofferedhim，hesprangfromhisbedandflewatmythroat。
Inself-defenceIstabbedhimtotheheart。Itwouldhavebeenthesameinanycase，forProvidencewouldneverhaveallowedhisguiltyhandtopickoutanythingbutthepoison。
\"Ihavelittlemoretosay，andit\'saswell，forIamaboutdoneup。Iwentoncabbingitforadayorso，intendingtokeepatituntilIcouldsaveenoughtotakemebacktoAmerica。IwasstandingintheyardwhenaraggedyoungsteraskediftherewasacabbytherecalledJeffersonHope，andsaidthathiscabwaswantedbyagentlemanat221B，BakerStreet。Iwentround，suspectingnoharm，andthenextthingIknew，thisyoungmanherehadthebraceletsonmywrists，andasneatlysnackled{27}aseverIsawinmylife。That\'sthewholeofmystory，gentlemen。Youmayconsidermetobeamurderer；butIholdthatIamjustasmuchanofficerofjusticeasyouare。\"
Sothrillinghadtheman\'snarrativebeen，andhismannerwassoimpressivethatwehadsatsilentandabsorbed。Eventheprofessionaldetectives，_blase_{28}astheywereineverydetailofcrime，appearedtobekeenlyinterestedintheman\'sstory。
WhenhefinishedwesatforsomeminutesinastillnesswhichwasonlybrokenbythescratchingofLestrade\'spencilashegavethefinishingtouchestohisshorthandaccount。
\"ThereisonlyonepointonwhichIshouldlikealittlemoreinformation，\"SherlockHolmessaidatlast。\"WhowasyouraccomplicewhocamefortheringwhichIadvertised?\"
Theprisonerwinkedatmyfriendjocosely。\"Icantellmyownsecrets，\"hesaid，\"butIdon\'tgetotherpeopleintotrouble。
Isawyouradvertisement，andIthoughtitmightbeaplant，oritmightbetheringwhichIwanted。Myfriendvolunteeredtogoandsee。Ithinkyou\'llownhediditsmartly。\"
\"Notadoubtofthat，\"saidHolmesheartily。
\"Now，gentlemen，\"theInspectorremarkedgravely，\"theformsofthelawmustbecompliedwith。OnThursdaytheprisonerwillbebroughtbeforethemagistrates，andyourattendancewillberequired。UntilthenIwillberesponsibleforhim。\"
Herangthebellashespoke，andJeffersonHopewasledoffbyacoupleofwarders，whilemyfriendandImadeourwayoutoftheStationandtookacabbacktoBakerStreet。
CHAPTERVII。
THECONCLUSION。
WEhadallbeenwarnedtoappearbeforethemagistratesupontheThursday；butwhentheThursdaycametherewasnooccasionforourtestimony。AhigherJudgehadtakenthematterinhand，andJeffersonHopehadbeensummonedbeforeatribunalwherestrictjusticewouldbemetedouttohim。
Ontheverynightafterhiscapturetheaneurismburst，andhewasfoundinthemorningstretcheduponthefloorofthecell，withaplacidsmileuponhisface，asthoughhehadbeenableinhisdyingmomentstolookbackuponausefullife，andonworkwelldone。
\"GregsonandLestradewillbewildabouthisdeath，\"
Holmesremarked，aswechatteditovernextevening。
\"Wherewilltheirgrandadvertisementbenow?\"
\"Idon\'tseethattheyhadverymuchtodowithhiscapture，\"
Ianswered。
\"Whatyoudointhisworldisamatterofnoconsequence，\"
returnedmycompanion，bitterly。\"Thequestionis，whatcanyoumakepeoplebelievethatyouhavedone。Nevermind，\"
hecontinued，morebrightly，afterapause。\"Iwouldnothavemissedtheinvestigationforanything。Therehasbeennobettercasewithinmyrecollection。Simpleasitwas，therewereseveralmostinstructivepointsaboutit。\"
\"Simple!\"Iejaculated。
\"Well，really，itcanhardlybedescribedasotherwise，\"saidSherlockHolmes，smilingatmysurprise。\"Theproofofitsintrinsicsimplicityis，thatwithoutanyhelpsaveafewveryordinarydeductionsIwasabletolaymyhanduponthecriminalwithinthreedays。\"
\"Thatistrue，\"saidI。
\"Ihavealreadyexplainedtoyouthatwhatisoutofthecommonisusuallyaguideratherthanahindrance。
Insolvingaproblemofthissort，thegrandthingistobeabletoreasonbackwards。Thatisaveryusefulaccomplishment，andaveryeasyone，butpeopledonotpractiseitmuch。
Intheevery-dayaffairsoflifeitismoreusefultoreasonforwards，andsotheothercomestobeneglected。
Therearefiftywhocanreasonsyntheticallyforonewhocanreasonanalytically。\"
\"Iconfess，\"saidI，\"thatIdonotquitefollowyou。\"
\"Ihardlyexpectedthatyouwould。LetmeseeifIcanmakeitclearer。Mostpeople，ifyoudescribeatrainofeventstothem，willtellyouwhattheresultwouldbe。Theycanputthoseeventstogetherintheirminds，andarguefromthemthatsomethingwillcometopass。Therearefewpeople，however，who，ifyoutoldthemaresult，wouldbeabletoevolvefromtheirowninnerconsciousnesswhatthestepswerewhichleduptothatresult。ThispoweriswhatImeanwhenItalkofreasoningbackwards，oranalytically。\"
\"Iunderstand，\"saidI。
\"Nowthiswasacaseinwhichyouweregiventheresultandhadtofindeverythingelseforyourself。Nowletmeendeavourtoshowyouthedifferentstepsinmyreasoning。
Tobeginatthebeginning。Iapproachedthehouse，asyouknow，onfoot，andwithmymindentirelyfreefromallimpressions。Inaturallybeganbyexaminingtheroadway，andthere，asIhavealreadyexplainedtoyou，Isawclearlythemarksofacab，which，Iascertainedbyinquiry，musthavebeenthereduringthenight。Isatisfiedmyselfthatitwasacabandnotaprivatecarriagebythenarrowgaugeofthewheels。TheordinaryLondongrowlerisconsiderablylesswidethanagentleman\'sbrougham。
\"Thiswasthefirstpointgained。Ithenwalkedslowlydownthegardenpath，whichhappenedtobecomposedofaclaysoil，peculiarlysuitablefortakingimpressions。Nodoubtitappearedtoyoutobeameretrampledlineofslush，buttomytrainedeyeseverymarkuponitssurfacehadameaning。
Thereisnobranchofdetectivesciencewhichissoimportantandsomuchneglectedastheartoftracingfootsteps。
Happily，Ihavealwayslaidgreatstressuponit，andmuchpracticehasmadeitsecondnaturetome。Isawtheheavyfootmarksoftheconstables，butIsawalsothetrackofthetwomenwhohadfirstpassedthroughthegarden。Itwaseasytotellthattheyhadbeenbeforetheothers，becauseinplacestheirmarkshadbeenentirelyobliteratedbytheotherscominguponthetopofthem。Inthiswaymysecondlinkwasformed，whichtoldmethatthenocturnalvisitorsweretwoinnumber，oneremarkableforhisheight(asI
calculatedfromthelengthofhisstride)，andtheotherfashionablydressed，tojudgefromthesmallandelegantimpressionleftbyhisboots。
\"Onenteringthehousethislastinferencewasconfirmed。
Mywell-bootedmanlaybeforeme。Thetallone，then，haddonethemurder，ifmurdertherewas。Therewasnowounduponthedeadman\'sperson，buttheagitatedexpressionuponhisfaceassuredmethathehadforeseenhisfatebeforeitcameuponhim。Menwhodiefromheartdisease，oranysuddennaturalcause，neverbyanychanceexhibitagitationupontheirfeatures。Havingsniffedthedeadman\'slipsIdetectedaslightlysoursmell，andIcametotheconclusionthathehadhadpoisonforceduponhim。Again，Iarguedthatithadbeenforceduponhimfromthehatredandfearexpresseduponhisface。Bythemethodofexclusion，Ihadarrivedatthisresult，fornootherhypothesiswouldmeetthefacts。Donotimaginethatitwasaveryunheardofidea。Theforcibleadministrationofpoisonisbynomeansanewthingincriminalannals。ThecasesofDolskyinOdessa，andofLeturierinMontpellier，willoccuratoncetoanytoxicologist。
\"Andnowcamethegreatquestionastothereasonwhy。
Robberyhadnotbeentheobjectofthemurder，fornothingwastaken。Wasitpolitics，then，orwasitawoman?Thatwasthequestionwhichconfrontedme。Iwasinclinedfromthefirsttothelattersupposition。Politicalassassinsareonlytoogladtodotheirworkandtofly。Thismurderhad，onthecontrary，beendonemostdeliberately，andtheperpetratorhadlefthistracksallovertheroom，showingthathehadbeenthereallthetime。Itmusthavebeenaprivatewrong，andnotapoliticalone，whichcalledforsuchamethodicalrevenge。WhentheinscriptionwasdiscovereduponthewallIwasmoreinclinedthanevertomyopinion。
Thethingwastooevidentlyablind。Whentheringwasfound，however，itsettledthequestion。Clearlythemurdererhadusedittoremindhisvictimofsomedeadorabsentwoman。ItwasatthispointthatIaskedGregsonwhetherhehadenquiredinhistelegramtoClevelandastoanyparticularpointinMr。Drebber\'sformercareer。
Heanswered，youremember，inthenegative。
\"Ithenproceededtomakeacarefulexaminationoftheroom，whichconfirmedmeinmyopinionastothemurderer\'sheight，andfurnishedmewiththeadditionaldetailsastotheTrichinopolycigarandthelengthofhisnails。Ihadalreadycometotheconclusion，sincetherewerenosignsofastruggle，thatthebloodwhichcoveredthefloorhadburstfromthemurderer\'snoseinhisexcitement。Icouldperceivethatthetrackofbloodcoincidedwiththetrackofhisfeet。
Itisseldomthatanyman，unlessheisveryfull-blooded，breaksoutinthiswaythroughemotion，soIhazardedtheopinionthatthecriminalwasprobablyarobustandruddy-facedman。
EventsprovedthatIhadjudgedcorrectly。
\"Havingleftthehouse，IproceededtodowhatGregsonhadneglected。ItelegraphedtotheheadofthepoliceatCleveland，limitingmyenquirytothecircumstancesconnectedwiththemarriageofEnochDrebber。Theanswerwasconclusive。
IttoldmethatDrebberhadalreadyappliedfortheprotectionofthelawagainstanoldrivalinlove，namedJeffersonHope，andthatthissameHopewasatpresentinEurope。
IknewnowthatIheldthecluetothemysteryinmyhand，andallthatremainedwastosecurethemurderer。
\"IhadalreadydeterminedinmyownmindthatthemanwhohadwalkedintothehousewithDrebber，wasnoneotherthanthemanwhohaddriventhecab。Themarksintheroadshowedmethatthehorsehadwanderedoninawaywhichwouldhavebeenimpossiblehadtherebeenanyoneinchargeofit。Where，then，couldthedriverbe，unlesshewereinsidethehouse?
Again，itisabsurdtosupposethatanysanemanwouldcarryoutadeliberatecrimeundertheveryeyes，asitwere，ofathirdperson，whowassuretobetrayhim。Lastly，supposingonemanwishedtodoganotherthroughLondon，whatbettermeanscouldheadoptthantoturncabdriver。AlltheseconsiderationsledmetotheirresistibleconclusionthatJeffersonHopewastobefoundamongthejarveysoftheMetropolis。
\"Ifhehadbeenonetherewasnoreasontobelievethathehadceasedtobe。Onthecontrary，fromhispointofview，anysuddenchancewouldbelikelytodrawattentiontohimself。Hewould，probably，foratimeatleast，continuetoperformhisduties。Therewasnoreasontosupposethathewasgoingunderanassumedname。Whyshouldhechangehisnameinacountrywherenooneknewhisoriginalone?I
thereforeorganizedmyStreetArabdetectivecorps，andsentthemsystematicallytoeverycabproprietorinLondonuntiltheyferretedoutthemanthatIwanted。Howwelltheysucceeded，andhowquicklyItookadvantageofit，arestillfreshinyourrecollection。ThemurderofStangersonwasanincidentwhichwasentirelyunexpected，butwhichcouldhardlyinanycasehavebeenprevented。Throughit，asyouknow，Icameintopossessionofthepills，theexistenceofwhichIhadalreadysurmised。Youseethewholethingisachainoflogicalsequenceswithoutabreakorflaw。\"
\"Itiswonderful!\"Icried。\"Yourmeritsshouldbepubliclyrecognized。Youshouldpublishanaccountofthecase。
Ifyouwon\'t，Iwillforyou。\"
\"Youmaydowhatyoulike，Doctor，\"heanswered。\"Seehere!\"
hecontinued，handingapaperovertome，\"lookatthis!\"
Itwasthe_Echo_fortheday，andtheparagraphtowhichhepointedwasdevotedtothecaseinquestion。
\"Thepublic，\"itsaid，\"havelostasensationaltreatthroughthesuddendeathofthemanHope，whowassuspectedofthemurderofMr。EnochDrebberandofMr。JosephStangerson。
Thedetailsofthecasewillprobablybeneverknownnow，thoughweareinformedupongoodauthoritythatthecrimewastheresultofanoldstandingandromanticfeud，inwhichloveandMormonismboreapart。Itseemsthatboththevictimsbelonged，intheiryoungerdays，totheLatterDaySaints，andHope，thedeceasedprisoner，hailsalsofromSaltLakeCity。Ifthecasehashadnoothereffect，it，atleast，bringsoutinthemoststrikingmannertheefficiencyofourdetectivepoliceforce，andwillserveasalessontoallforeignersthattheywilldowiselytosettletheirfeudsathome，andnottocarrythemontoBritishsoil。Itisanopensecretthatthecreditofthissmartcapturebelongsentirelytothewell-knownScotlandYardofficials，Messrs。
LestradeandGregson。Themanwasapprehended，itappears，intheroomsofacertainMr。SherlockHolmes，whohashimself，asanamateur，shownsometalentinthedetectiveline，andwho，withsuchinstructors，mayhopeintimetoattaintosomedegreeoftheirskill。Itisexpectedthatatestimonialofsomesortwillbepresentedtothetwoofficersasafittingrecognitionoftheirservices。\"
\"Didn\'tItellyousowhenwestarted?\"criedSherlockHolmeswithalaugh。\"That\'stheresultofallourStudyinScarlet:
togetthematestimonial!\"
\"Nevermind，\"Ianswered，\"Ihaveallthefactsinmyjournal，andthepublicshallknowthem。Inthemeantimeyoumustmakeyourselfcontentedbytheconsciousnessofsuccess，liketheRomanmiser——
\"`Populusmesibilat，atmihiplaudoIpsedomisimulacnummoscontemplarinarca。\'\"