Whenhe"cameto，"asthephrasegoes，hewasastartlingobjecttolookat，withhiscolorlessface，hissunkencheeks，hiswildblackeyes，andhislongblackhair。ThefirstquestionheaskedmeabouthimselfwhenhecouldspeakmademesuspectthatIhadbeencalledintoamaninmyownprofession。Imentionedtohimmysurmise，andhetoldmethatIwasright。
HesaidhehadcomelastfromParis，wherehehadbeenattachedtoahospital；thathehadlatelyreturnedtoEngland，onhiswaytoEdinburgh，tocontinuehisstudies；thathehadbeentakenillonthejourney；andthathehadstoppedtorestandrecoverhimselfatDoncaster。Hedidnotaddawordabouthisname，orwhohewas，andofcourseIdidnotquestionhimonthesubject。
AllIinquiredwhenheceasedspeakingwaswhatbranchoftheprofessionheintendedtofollow。
"Anybranch，"hesaid，bitterly，"whichwillputbreadintothemouthofapoorman。"
Atthis，Arthur，whohadbeenhithertowatchinghiminsilentcuriosity，burstoutimpetuouslyinhisusualgood—humoredway：
"Mydearfellow"（everybodywas"mydearfellow"withArthur），"nowyouhavecometolifeagain，don’tbeginbybeingdown—heartedaboutyourprospects。I’llanswerforitIcanhelpyoutosomecapitalthinginthemedicalline，or，ifIcan’t，I
knowmyfathercan。"
Themedicalstudentlookedathimsteadily。
"Thankyou，"hesaid，coldly；thenadded，"MayIaskwhoyourfatheris？"
"He’swellenoughknownallaboutthispartofthecountry，"
repliedArthur。"Heisagreatmanufacturer，andhisnameisHolliday。"
Myhandwasontheman’swristduringthisbriefconversation。
TheinstantthenameofHollidaywaspronouncedIfeltthepulseundermyfingersflutter，stop，goonsuddenlywithabound，andbeatafterwardforaminuteortwoatthefeverrate。
"Howdidyoucomehere？"askedthestranger，quickly，excitably，passionatelyalmost。
Arthurrelatedbrieflywhathadhappenedfromthetimeofhisfirsttakingthebedattheinn。
"IamindebtedtoMr。Holliday’sson，then，forthehelpthathassavedmylife，"saidthemedicalstudent，speakingtohimself，withasingularsarcasminhisvoice。"Comehere！"
Heheldout，ashespoke，hislong，white，bonyrighthand。
"Withallmyheart，"saidArthur，takinghishandcordially。"I
mayconfessitnow，"hecontinued，laughing，"uponmyhonor，youalmostfrightenedmeoutofmywits。"
Thestrangerdidnotseemtolisten。HiswildblackeyeswerefixedwithalookofeagerinterestonArthur’sface，andhislongbonyfingerskepttightholdofArthur’shand。YoungHolliday，onhisside，returnedthegaze，amazedandpuzzledbythemedicalstudent’soddlanguageandmanners。Thetwofaceswereclosetogether；Ilookedatthem，and，tomyamazement，I
wassuddenlyimpressedbythesenseofalikenessbetweenthem——notinfeaturesorcomplexion，butsolelyinexpression。Itmusthavebeenastronglikeness，orIshouldcertainlynothavefounditout，forIamnaturallyslowatdetectingresemblancesbetweenfaces。
"Youhavesavedmylife，"saidthestrangeman，stilllookinghardinArthur’sface，stillholdingtightlybyhishand。"Ifyouhadbeenmyownbrother，youcouldnothavedonemoreformethanthat。"
Helaidasingularlystrongemphasisonthosethreewords"myownbrother，"andachangepassedoverhisfaceashepronouncedthem——achangethatnolanguageofmineiscompetenttodescribe。
"IhopeIhavenotdonebeingofservicetoyouyet，"saidArthur。"I’llspeaktomyfatherassoonasIgethome。"
"Youseemtobefondandproudofyourfather，"saidthemedicalstudent。"Isuppose，inreturn，heisfondandproudofyou？"
"Ofcourseheis，"answeredArthur，laughing。"Isthereanythingwonderfulinthat？Isn’t_your_fatherfond——"
ThestrangersuddenlydroppedyoungHolliday’shandandturnedhisfaceaway。
"Ibegyourpardon，"saidArthur。"IhopeIhavenotunintentionallypainedyou。Ihopeyouhavenotlostyourfather？"
"Ican’twelllosewhatIhaveneverhad，"retortedthemedicalstudent，withaharshmockinglaugh。
"Whatyouhaveneverhad！"
ThestrangemansuddenlycaughtArthur’shandagain，suddenlylookedoncemorehardinhisface。
"Yes，"hesaid，witharepetitionofthebitterlaugh。"Youhavebroughtapoordevilbackintotheworldwhohasnobusinessthere。DoIastonishyou？Well，Ihaveafancyofmyownfortellingyouwhatmeninmysituationgenerallykeepasecret。I
havenonameandnofather。ThemercifullawofsocietytellsmeIamnobody’sson！Askyourfatherifhewillbemyfathertoo，andhelpmeoninlifewiththefamilyname。"
Arthurlookedatmemorepuzzledthanever。
Isignedtohimtosaynothing，andthenlaidmyfingersagainontheman’swrist。No。Inspiteoftheextraordinaryspeechthathehadjustmade，hewasnot，asIhadbeendisposedtosuspect，beginningtogetlight—headed。Hispulse，bythistime，hadfallenbacktoaquiet，slowbeat，andhisskinwasmoistandcool。Notasymptomoffeveroragitationabouthim。
Findingthatneitherofusansweredhim，heturnedtome，andbegantalkingoftheextraordinarynatureofhiscase，andaskingmyadviceaboutthefuturecourseofmedicaltreatmenttowhichheoughttosubjecthimself。Isaidthematterrequiredcarefulthinkingover，andsuggestedthatIshouldsendhimaprescriptionalittlelater。Hetoldmetowriteitatonce，ashewouldmostlikelybeleavingDoncasterinthemorningbeforeI
wasup。Itwasquiteuselesstorepresenttohimthefollyanddangerofsuchaproceedingasthis。Heheardmepolitelyandpatiently，butheldtohisresolution，withoutofferinganyreasonsorexplanations，andrepeatedtomethat，ifIwishedtogivehimachanceofseeingmyprescription，Imustwriteitatonce。
Hearingthis，Arthurvolunteeredtheloanofatravelingwriting—case，whichhesaidhehadwithhim，and，bringingittothebed，shookthenote—paperoutofthepocketofthecaseforthwithinhisusualcarelessway。Withthepapertherefelloutonthecounterpaneofthebedasmallpacketofsticking—plaster，andalittlewater—colordrawingofalandscape。
Themedicalstudenttookupthedrawingandlookedatit。Hiseyefellonsomeinitialsneatlywrittenincipherinonecorner。Hestartedandtrembled；hispalefacegrewwhiterthanover；hiswildblackeyesturnedonArthur，andlookedthroughandthroughhim。
"Aprettydrawing，"hesaid，inaremarkablyquiettoneofvoice。
"Ah！anddonebysuchaprettygirl，"saidArthur。"Oh，suchaprettygirl！Iwishitwasnotalandscape——Iwishitwasaportraitofher！"
"Youadmireherverymuch？"
Arthur，halfinjest，halfinearnest，kissedhishandforanswer。
"Loveatfirstsight，"saidyoungHolliday，puttingthedrawingawayagain。"Butthecourseofitdoesn’trunsmooth。It’stheoldstory。She’smonopolized，asusual；trammeledbyarashengagementtosomepoormanwhoisneverlikelytogetmoneyenoughtomarryher。ItwasluckyIheardofitintime，orI
shouldcertainlyhaveriskedadeclarationwhenshegavemethatdrawing。Here，doctor，hereispen，ink，andpaperallreadyforyou。"
"Whenshegaveyouthatdrawing？Gaveit？gaveit？"
Herepeatedthewordsslowlytohimself，andsuddenlyclosedhiseyes。Amomentarydistortionpassedacrosshisface，andIsawoneofhishandsclutchupthebedclothesandsqueezethemhard。
Ithoughthewasgoingtobeillagain，andbeggedthattheremightbenomoretalking。HeopenedhiseyeswhenIspoke，fixedthemoncemoresearchinglyonArthur，andsaid，slowlyanddistinctly：
"Youlikeher，andshelikesyou。Thepoormanmaydieoutofyourway。Whocantellthatshemaynotgiveyouherselfaswellasherdrawing，afterall？"
BeforeyoungHollidaycouldanswerheturnedtome，andsaidinawhisper："Nowfortheprescription。"Fromthattime，thoughhespoketoArthuragain，heneverlookedathimmore。
WhenIhadwrittentheprescription，heexaminedit，approvedofit，andthenastonishedusbothbyabruptlywishingusgood—night。Iofferedtositupwithhim，andheshookhishead。
Arthurofferedtositupwithhim，andhesaid，shortly，withhisfaceturnedaway，"No。"Iinsistedonhavingsomebodylefttowatchhim。HegavewaywhenhefoundIwasdetermined，andsaidhewouldaccepttheservicesofthewaiterattheinn。
"Thankyouboth，"hesaid，aswerosetogo。"Ihaveonelastfavortoask——notofyou，doctor，forIleaveyoutoexerciseyourprofessionaldiscretion，butofMr。Holliday。"Hiseyes，whilehespoke，stillrestedsteadilyonme，andneveronceturnedtowardArthur。"IbegthatMr。Hollidaywillnotmentiontoanyone，leastofalltohisfather，theeventsthathaveoccurredandthewordsthathavepassedinthisroom。Ientreathimtoburymeinhismemoryas，butforhim，Imighthavebeenburiedinmygrave。Icannotgivemyreasonformakingthisstrangerequest。Icanonlyimplorehimtograntit。"
Hisvoicefalteredforthefirsttime，andhehidhisfaceonthepillow。Arthur，completelybewildered，gavetherequiredpledge。
ItookyoungHollidayawaywithmeimmediatelyafterwardtothehouseofmyfriend，determiningtogobacktotheinnandtoseethemedicalstudentagainbeforehehadleftinthemorning。
Ireturnedtotheinnateighto’clock，purposelyabstainingfromwakingArthur，whowassleepingoffthepastnight’sexcitementononeofmyfriend’ssofas。Asuspicionhadoccurredtome，assoonasIwasaloneinmybedroom，whichmademeresolvethatHollidayandthestrangerwhoselifehehadsavedshouldnotmeetagain，ifIcouldpreventit。
IhavealreadyalludedtocertainreportsorscandalswhichI
knewofrelatingtotheearlylifeofArthur’sfather。WhileI
wasthinking，inmybed，ofwhathadpassedattheinn；ofthechangeinthestudent’spulsewhenheheardthenameofHolliday；
oftheresemblanceofexpressionthatIhaddiscoveredbetweenhisfaceandArthur’s；oftheemphasishehadlaidonthosethreewords，"myownbrother，"andofhisincomprehensibleacknowledgmentofhisownillegitimacy——whileIwasthinkingofthesethings，thereportsIhavementionedsuddenlyflewintomymind，andlinkedthemselvesfasttothechainofmypreviousreflections。Somethingwithinmewhispered，"Itisbestthatthosetwoyoungmenshouldnotmeetagain。"IfeltitbeforeI
slept；IfeltitwhenIwoke；andIwentasItoldyou，alonetotheinnthenextmorning。
Ihadmissedmyonlyopportunityofseeingmynamelesspatientagain。HehadbeengonenearlyanhourwhenIinquiredforhim。
IhavenowtoldyoueverythingthatIknowforcertaininrelationtothemanwhomIbroughtbacktolifeinthedouble—beddedroomoftheinnatDoncaster。WhatIhavenexttoaddismatterforinferenceandsurmise，andisnot，strictlyspeaking，matteroffact。
Ihavetotellyou，first，thatthemedicalstudentturnedouttobestrangelyandunaccountablyrightinassumingitasmorethanprobablethatArthurHollidaywouldmarrytheyoungladywhohadgivenhimthewater—colordrawingofthelandscape。ThatmarriagetookplacealittlemorethanayearaftertheeventsoccurredwhichIhavejustbeenrelating。
TheyoungcouplecametoliveintheneighborhoodinwhichIwasthenestablishedinpractice。Iwaspresentatthewedding，andwasrathersurprisedtofindthatArthurwassingularlyreservedwithme，bothbeforeandafterhismarriage，onthesubjectoftheyounglady’spriorengagement。Heonlyreferredtoitoncewhenwewerealone，merelytellingme，onthatoccasion，thathiswifehaddoneallthathonoranddutyrequiredofherinthematter，andthattheengagementhadbeenbrokenoffwiththefullapprovalofherparents。Ineverheardmorefromhimthanthis。
Forthreeyearsheandhiswifelivedtogetherhappily。AttheexpirationofthattimethesymptomsofaseriousillnessfirstdeclaredthemselvesinMrs。ArthurHolliday。Itturnedouttobealong，lingering，hopelessmalady。Iattendedherthroughout。Wehadbeengreatfriendswhenshewaswell，andwebecamemoreattachedtoeachotherthaneverwhenshewasill。Ihadmanylongandinterestingconversationswithherintheintervalswhenshesufferedleast。TheresultofoneofthoseconversationsI
maybrieflyrelate，leavingyoutodrawanyinferencesfromitthatyouplease。
TheinterviewtowhichIreferoccurredshortlybeforeherdeath。
Icalledoneeveningasusual，andfoundheralone，withalookinhereyeswhichtoldmeshehadbeencrying。Sheonlyinformedmeatfirstthatshehadbeendepressedinspirits，butbylittleandlittleshebecamemorecommunicative，andconfessedtomethatshehadbeenlookingoversomeoldletterswhichhadbeenaddressedtoher，beforeshehadseenArthur，byamantowhomshehadbeenengagedtobemarried。Iaskedherhowtheengagementcametobebrokenoff。Sherepliedthatithadnotbeenbrokenoff，butthatithaddiedoutinaverymysteriousway。Thepersontowhomshewasengaged——herfirstlove，shecalledhim——wasverypoor，andtherewasnoimmediateprospectoftheirbeingmarried。Hefollowedmyprofession，andwentabroadtostudy。Theyhadcorrespondedregularlyuntilthetimewhen，asshebelieved，hehadreturnedtoEngland。Fromthatperiodsheheardnomoreofhim。Hewasofafretful，sensitivetemperament，andshefearedthatshemighthaveinadvertentlydoneorsaidsomethingtooffendhim。Howeverthatmightbe，hehadneverwrittentoheragain，andafterwaitingayearshehadmarriedArthur。Iaskedwhenthefirstestrangementhadbegun，andfoundthatthetimeatwhichsheceasedtohearanythingofherfirstloverexactlycorrespondedwiththetimeatwhichIhadbeencalledintomymysteriouspatientatTheTwoRobinsInn。
Afortnightafterthatconversationshedied。IncourseoftimeArthurmarriedagain。OflateyearshehaslivedprincipallyinLondon，andIhaveseenlittleornothingofhim。
IhavesomeyearstopassoverbeforeIcanapproachtoanythinglikeaconclusionofthisfragmentarynarrative。Andevenwhenthatlaterperiodisreached，thelittlethatIhavetosaywillnotoccupyyourattentionformorethanafewminutes。
Onerainyautumnevening，whileIwasstillpracticingasacountrydoctor，Iwassittingalone，thinkingoveracasethenundermycharge，whichsorelyperplexedme，whenIheardalowknockatthedoorofmyroom。
"Comein，"Icried，lookingupcuriouslytoseewhowantedme。
Afteramomentarydelay，thelockmoved，andalong，white，bonyhandstoleroundthedoorasitopened，gentlypushingitoverafoldinthecarpetwhichhindereditfromworkingfreelyonthehinges。Thehandwasfollowedbyamanwhosefaceinstantlystruckmewithaverystrangesensation。Therewassomethingfamiliartomeinthelookofhim，andyetitwasalsosomethingthatsuggestedtheideaofchange。
Hequietlyintroducedhimselfas"Mr。Lorn，"presentedtomesomeexcellentprofessionalrecommendations，andproposedtofilltheplace，thenvacant，ofmyassistant。WhilehewasspeakingI
noticeditassingularthatwedidnotappeartobemeetingeachotherlikestrangers，andthat，whileIwascertainlystartledatseeinghim，hedidnotappeartobeatallstartledatseeingme。
ItwasonthetipofmytonguetosaythatIthoughtIhadmetwithhimbefore。Buttherewassomethinginhisface，andsomethinginmyownrecollections——Icanhardlysaywhat——whichunaccountablyrestrainedmefromspeakingandwhichasunaccountablyattractedmetohimatonce，andmademefeelreadyandgladtoaccepthisproposal。
Hetookhisassistant’splaceonthatveryday。Wegotontogetherasifwehadbeenoldfriendsfromthefirst；but，throughoutthewholetimeofhisresidenceinmyhouse，henevervolunteeredanyconfidencesonthesubjectofhispastlife，andIneverapproachedtheforbiddentopicexceptbyhints，whichheresolutelyrefusedtounderstand。
IhadlonghadanotionthatmypatientattheinnmighthavebeenanaturalsonoftheelderMr。Holliday’s，andthathemightalsohavebeenthemanwhowasengagedtoArthur’sfirstwife。
Andnowanotherideaoccurredtome，thatMr。Lornwastheonlypersoninexistencewhocould，ifhechose，enlightenmeonboththosedoubtfulpoints。Butheneverdidchoose，andIwasneverenlightened。HeremainedwithmetillIremovedtoLondontotrymyfortunethereasaphysicianforthesecondtime，andthenhewenthiswayandIwentmine，andwehaveneverseenoneanothersince。
Icanaddnomore。Imayhavebeenrightinmysuspicion，orI
mayhavebeenwrong。AllIknowisthat，inthosedaysofmycountrypractice，whenIcamehomelate，andfoundmyassistantasleep，andwokehim，heusedtolook，incomingto，wonderfullylikethestrangeratDoncasterasheraisedhimselfinthebedonthatmemorablenight。
THESIXTHDAY
ANoppressivelymildtemperature，andsteady，soft，settledrain——dismalweatherforidlepeopleinthecountry。MissJessie，afterlookinglonginglyoutofthewindow，resignedherselftocircumstances，andgaveupallhopeofaride。Thegardener，theconservatory，therabbits，theraven，thehousekeeper，and，asalastresource，eventheneglectedpiano，werealllaidundercontributiontohelpherthroughthetime。Itwasalongday，butthankstoherowntalentfortrifling，shecontrivedtooccupyitpleasantlyenough。
Stillnonewsofmyson。Thetimewasgettingonnow，anditwassurelynotunreasonabletolookforsometidingsofhim。
To—dayMorganandIbothfinishedourthirdandlaststories。I
correctedmybrother’scontributionwithnoverygreatdifficultyonthisoccasion，andnumbereditNine。Myownstorycamenext，andwasthusaccidentallydistinguishedasthelastoftheseries——NumberTen。WhenIdroppedthetwocorrespondingcardsintothebowl，thethoughtthattherewouldbenownomoretoaddseemedtoquickenmyprevailingsenseofanxietyonthesubjectofGeorge’sreturn。Aheavydepressionhunguponmyspirits，andIwentoutdesperatelyintheraintoshakemymindfreeofoppressinginfluencesbydintofhardbodilyexercise。
ThenumberdrawnthiseveningwasThree。Ontheproductionofthecorrespondingmanuscriptitprovedtobemyturntoreadagain。
"Icanpromiseyoualittlevarietyto—night，"Isaid，addressingourfairguest，"ifIcanpromisenothingelse。ThistimeitisnotastoryofmyownwritingthatIamabouttoread，butacopyofaverycuriouscorrespondencewhichIfoundamongmyprofessionalpapers。"
Jessie’scountenancefell。"Istherenostoryinit？"sheasked，ratherdiscontentedly。
"Certainlythereisastoryinit，"Ireplied——"astoryofamuchlighterkindthananywehaveyetread，andwhichmay，onthataccount，proveacceptable，bywayofcontrastandrelief，evenifitfailstoattractyoubyothermeans。Iobtainedtheoriginalcorrespondence，Imusttellyou，fromtheofficeoftheDetectivePoliceofLondon。"
Jessie’sfacebrightened。"Thatpromisessomethingtobeginwith，"shesaid。
"Someyearssince，"Icontinued，"therewasadesireatheadquarterstoincreasethenumbersandefficiencyoftheDetectivePolice，andIhadthehonorofbeingoneofthepersonsprivatelyconsultedonthatoccasion。Thechiefobstacletotheplanproposedlayinthedifficultyoffindingnewrecruits。TheordinaryrankandfileofthepoliceofLondonaresober，trustworthy，andcourageousmen，butasabodytheyaresadlywantinginintelligence。Knowingthis，theauthoritiestookintoconsiderationascheme，whichlookedplausibleenoughonpaper，foravailingthemselvesoftheservicesofthatproverbiallysharpclassofmen，theexperiencedclerksinattorney’soffices。
Amongthepersonswhoseadvicewassoughtonthispoint，Iwastheonlyonewhodissentedfromthearrangementproposed。Ifeltcertainthatthereallyexperiencedclerksintrustedwithconductingprivateinvestigationsandhuntinguplostevidence，weretoowellpaidandtooindependentlysituatedintheirvariousofficestocareaboutenteringtheranksoftheDetectivePolice，andsubmittingthemselvestotherigiddisciplineofScotlandYard，andIventuredtopredictthattheinferiorclerksonly，whosediscretionwasnottobetrusted，wouldprovetobethemenwhovolunteeredfordetectiveemployment。Myadvicewasnottakenandtheexperimentofenlistingtheclerkswastriedintwoorthreecases。Iwasnaturallyinterestedintheresult，andinduecourseoftimeIappliedforinformationintherightquarter。Inreply，theoriginalsofthelettersofwhichIamnowabouttoreadthecopiesweresenttome，withanintimationthatthecorrespondenceinthisparticularinstanceofferedafairspecimenoftheresultsoftheexperimentintheothercases。Thelettersamusedme，andIobtainedpermissiontocopythembeforeIsentthemback。Youwillnowhear，therefore，byhisownstatement，howacertainattorney’sclerksucceededinconductingaverydelicateinvestigation，andhowtheregularmembersoftheDetectivePolicecontrivedtohelphimthroughhisfirstexperiment。"
BROTHERGRIFFITH’SSTORY
ofTHEBITERBIT。
_ExtractedfromtheCorrespondenceoftheLondonPolice_。
FROMCHIEFINSPECTORTHEAKSTONE，OFTHEDETECTIVEPOLICE，TO
SERGEANTBULMER，OFTHESAMEFORCE。
London，4thJuly，18——。
SERGEANTBULMER——Thisistoinformyouthatyouarewantedtoassistinlookingupacaseofimportance，whichwillrequirealltheattentionofanexperiencedmemberoftheforce。Thematteroftherobberyonwhichyouarenowengagedyouwillpleasetoshiftovertotheyoungmanwhobringsyouthisletter。Youwilltellhimallthecircumstancesofthecase，justastheystand；
youwillputhimuptotheprogressyouhavemade（ifany）towarddetectingthepersonorpersonsbywhomthemoneyhasbeenstolen；andyouwillleavehimtomakethebesthecanofthematternowinyourhands。Heistohavethewholeresponsibilityofthecase，andthewholecreditofhissuccessifhebringsittoaproperissue。
SomuchfortheordersthatIamdesiredtocommunicatetoyou。
Awordinyourear，next，aboutthisnewmanwhoistotakeyourplace。HisnameisMatthewSharpin，andheistohavethechancegivenhimofdashingintoourofficeatonejump——supposingheturnsoutstrongenoughtotakeit。Youwillnaturallyaskmehowhecomesbythisprivilege。Icanonlytellyouthathehassomeuncommonlystronginteresttobackhimincertainhighquarters，whichyouandIhadbetternotmentionexceptunderourbreaths。
Hehasbeenalawyer’sclerk，andheiswonderfullyconceitedinhisopinionofhimself，aswellasmeanandunderhand，tolookat。Accordingtohisownaccount，heleaveshisoldtradeandjoinsoursofhisownfreewillandpreference。YouwillnomorebelievethatthanIdo。Mynotionis，thathehasmanagedtoferretoutsomeprivateinformationinconnectionwiththeaffairsofoneofhismaster’sclients，whichmakeshimratheranawkwardcustomertokeepintheofficeforthefuture，andwhich，atthesametime，giveshimholdenoughoverhisemployertomakeitdangeroustodrivehimintoacornerbyturninghimaway。I
thinkthegivinghimthisunheard—ofchanceamongusis，inplainwords，prettymuchlikegivinghimhushmoneytokeephimquiet。
Howeverthatmaybe，Mr。MatthewSharpinistohavethecasenowinyourhands，andifhesucceedswithithepokeshisuglynoseintoourofficeassureasfate。Iputyouuptothis，sergeant，sothatyoumaynotstandinyourownlightbygivingthenewmananycausetocomplainofyouatheadquarters，andremainyours，FRANCISTHEAKSTONE。
FROMMR。MATTHEWSHARPINTOCHIEFINSPECTORTHEAKSTONE。
London，5thJuly，18——。
DEARSIR——HavingnowbeenfavoredwiththenecessaryinstructionsfromSergeantBulmer，IbegtoremindyouofcertaindirectionswhichIhavereceivedrelatingtothereportofmyfutureproceedingswhichIamtoprepareforexaminationatheadquarters。
Theobjectofmywriting，andofyourexaminingwhatIhavewrittenbeforeyousendittothehigherauthorities，is，Iaminformed，togiveme，asanuntriedhand，thebenefitofyouradviceincaseIwantit（whichIventuretothinkIshallnot）
atanystageofmyproceedings。AstheextraordinarycircumstancesofthecaseonwhichIamnowengagedmakeitimpossibleformetoabsentmyselffromtheplacewheretherobberywascommitteduntilIhavemadesomeprogresstowarddiscoveringthethief，Iamnecessarilyprecludedfromconsultingyoupersonally。Hencethenecessityofmywritingdownthevariousdetails，whichmightperhapsbebettercommunicatedbywordofmouth。This，ifIamnotmistaken，isthepositioninwhichwearenowplaced。Istatemyownimpressionsonthesubjectinwriting，inorderthatwemayclearlyunderstandeachotherattheoutset；andhavethehonortoremainyourobedientservant，MATTHEWSHARPIN。
FROMCHIEFINSPECTORTHEAKSTONETOMR。MATTHEWSHARPIN。
London，5thJuly，18——。
SIR——Youhavebegunbywastingtime，ink，andpaper。WebothofusperfectlywellknewthepositionwestoodintowardeachotherwhenIsentyouwithmylettertoSergeantBulmer。Therewasnottheleastneedtorepeatitinwriting。Besogoodastoemployyourpeninfutureonthebusinessactuallyinhand。
Youhavenowthreeseparatemattersonwhichtowriteme。First，youhavetodrawupastatementofyourinstructionsreceivedfromSergeantBulmer，inordertoshowusthatnothinghasescapedyourmemory，andthatyouarethoroughlyacquaintedwithallthecircumstancesofthecasewhichhasbeenintrustedtoyou。Secondly，youaretoinformmewhatitisyouproposetodo。
Thirdly，youaretoreporteveryinchofyourprogress（ifyoumakeany）fromdaytoday，and，ifneedbe，fromhourtohouraswell。Thisis_your_duty。Astowhat_my_dutymaybe，whenI
wantyoutoremindmeofit，Iwillwriteandtellyouso。Inthemeantime，Iremainyours，FRANCISTHEAKSTONE。