"Comeup，mydearsir，"saidHolmes’svoicefromabove。
　　"Ihopeyouhavenodesignsuponusonsuchanightasthis。"
　　Thedetectivemountedthestairs，andourlampgleameduponhisshiningwaterproof。IhelpedhimoutofitwhileHolmesknockedablazeoutofthelogsinthegrate。
　　"Now，mydearHopkins，drawupandwarmyourtoes，"saidhe。
　　"Here’sacigar，andthedoctorhasaprescriptioncontaininghotwaterandalemonwhichisgoodmedicineonanightlikethis。
　　Itmustbesomethingimportantwhichhasbroughtyououtinsuchagale。"
　　"Itisindeed，Mr。Holmes。I’vehadabustlingafternoon，Ipromiseyou。DidyouseeanythingoftheYoxleycaseinthelatesteditions？"
　　"I’veseennothinglaterthanthefifteenthcenturyto—day。"
　　"Well，itwasonlyaparagraph，andallwrongatthat，soyouhavenotmissedanything。Ihaven’tletthegrassgrowundermyfeet。It’sdowninKent，sevenmilesfromChathamandthreefromtherailwayline。Iwaswiredforatthree—fifteen，reachedYoxleyOldPlaceatfive，conductedmyinvestigation，wasbackatCharingCrossbythelasttrain，andstraighttoyoubycab。"
　　"Whichmeans，Isuppose，thatyouarenotquiteclearaboutyourcase？"
　　"ItmeansthatIcanmakeneitherheadnortailofit。
　　SofarasIcanseeitisjustastangledabusinessaseverI
　　handled，andyetatfirstitseemedsosimplethatonecouldn’tgowrong。There’snomotive，Mr。Holmes。That’swhatbothersme——Ican’tputmyhandonamotive。Here’samandead——
　　there’snodenyingthat——but，sofarasIcansee，noreasononearthwhyanyoneshouldwishhimharm。"
　　Holmeslithiscigarandleanedbackinhischair。
　　"Letushearaboutit，"saidhe。
　　"I’vegotmyfactsprettyclear，"saidStanleyHopkins。
　　"AllIwantnowistoknowwhattheyallmean。Thestory，sofarasIcanmakeitout，islikethis。Someyearsagothiscountryhouse，YoxleyOldPlace，wastakenbyanelderlyman，whogavethenameofProfessorCoram。Hewasaninvalid，keepinghisbedhalfthetime，andtheotherhalfhobblingroundthehousewithastickorbeingpushedaboutthegroundsbythegardenerinabath—chair。Hewaswelllikedbythefewneighbourswhocalleduponhim，andhehasthereputationdownthereofbeingaverylearnedman。Hishouseholdusedtoconsistofanelderlyhousekeeper，Mrs。Marker，andofamaid，SusanTarlton。
　　Thesehavebothbeenwithhimsincehisarrival，andtheyseemtobewomenofexcellentcharacter。TheProfessoriswritingalearnedbook，andhefounditnecessaryaboutayearagotoengageasecretary。Thefirsttwothathetriedwerenotsuccesses；butthethird，Mr。WilloughbySmith，averyyoungmanstraightfromtheUniversity，seemstohavebeenjustwhathisemployerwanted。HisworkconsistedinwritingallthemorningtotheProfessor’sdictation，andheusuallyspenttheeveninginhuntingupreferencesandpassageswhichboreuponthenextday’swork。ThisWilloughbySmithhasnothingagainsthimeitherasaboyatUppinghamorasayoungmanatCambridge。
　　Ihaveseenhistestimonials，andfromthefirsthewasadecent，quiet，hardworkingfellow，withnoweakspotinhimatall。
　　AndyetthisistheladwhohasmethisdeaththismorningintheProfessor’sstudyundercircumstanceswhichcanpointonlytomurder。"
　　Thewindhowledandscreamedatthewindows。HolmesandIdrewclosertothefirewhiletheyounginspectorslowlyandpointbypointdevelopedhissingularnarrative。
　　"IfyouweretosearchallEngland，"saidhe，"Idon’tsupposeyoucouldfindahouseholdmoreself—containedorfreefromoutsideinfluences。Wholeweekswouldpassandnotoneofthemgopastthegardengate。TheProfessorwasburiedinhisworkandexistedfornothingelse。YoungSmithknewnobodyintheneighbourhood，andlivedverymuchashisemployerdid。Thetwowomenhadnothingtotakethemfromthehouse。Mortimerthegardener，whowheelsthebath—chair，isanArmypensioner——anoldCrimeanmanofexcellentcharacter。Hedoesnotliveinthehouse，butinathree—roomedcottageattheotherendofthegarden。ThosearetheonlypeoplethatyouwouldfindwithinthegroundsofYoxleyOldPlace。Atthesametime，thegateofthegardenisahundredyardsfromthemainLondontoChathamroad。Itopenswithalatch，andthereisnothingtopreventanyonefromwalkingin。
　　"NowIwillgiveyoutheevidenceofSusanTarlton，whoistheonlypersonwhocansayanythingpositiveaboutthematter。
　　Itwasintheforenoon，betweenelevenandtwelve。
　　Shewasengagedatthemomentinhangingsomecurtainsintheupstairsfrontbedroom。ProfessorCoramwasstillinbed，forwhentheweatherisbadheseldomrisesbeforemidday。
　　Thehousekeeperwasbusiedwithsomeworkinthebackofthehouse。
　　WilloughbySmithhadbeeninhisbedroom，whichheusesasasitting—room；butthemaidheardhimatthatmomentpassalongthepassageanddescendtothestudyimmediatelybelowher。
　　Shedidnotseehim，butshesaysthatshecouldnotbemistakeninhisquick，firmtread。Shedidnothearthestudydoorclose，butaminuteorsolatertherewasadreadfulcryintheroombelow。
　　Itwasawild，hoarsescream，sostrangeandunnaturalthatitmighthavecomeeitherfromamanorawoman。Atthesameinstanttherewasaheavythud，whichshooktheoldhouse，andthenallwassilence。Themaidstoodpetrifiedforamoment，andthen，recoveringhercourage，sherandownstairs。Thestudydoorwasshut，andsheopenedit。InsideyoungMr。WilloughbySmithwasstretcheduponthefloor。Atfirstshecouldseenoinjury，butasshetriedtoraisehimshesawthatbloodwaspouringfromtheundersideofhisneck。Itwaspiercedbyaverysmallbutverydeepwound，whichhaddividedthecarotidartery。Theinstrumentwithwhichtheinjuryhadbeeninflictedlayuponthecarpetbesidehim。
　　Itwasoneofthosesmallsealing—waxknivestobefoundonold—fashionedwriting—tables，withanivoryhandleandastiffblade。ItwaspartofthefittingsoftheProfessor’sowndesk。
　　"AtfirstthemaidthoughtthatyoungSmithwasalreadydead，butonpouringsomewaterfromthecarafeoverhisforeheadheopenedhiseyesforaninstant。`TheProfessor，’hemurmured——
　　`itwasshe。’Themaidispreparedtoswearthatthoseweretheexactwords。Hetrieddesperatelytosaysomethingelse，andheheldhisrighthandupintheair。Thenhefellbackdead。
　　"Inthemeantimethehousekeeperhadalsoarriveduponthescene，butshewasjusttoolatetocatchtheyoungman’sdyingwords。
　　LeavingSusanwiththebody，shehurriedtotheProfessor’sroom。
　　Hewassittingupinbedhorriblyagitated，forhehadheardenoughtoconvincehimthatsomethingterriblehadoccurred。
　　Mrs。MarkerispreparedtoswearthattheProfessorwasstillinhisnight—clothes，and，indeed，itwasimpossibleforhimtodresswithoutthehelpofMortimer，whoseordersweretocomeattwelveo’clock。TheProfessordeclaresthatheheardthedistantcry，butthatheknowsnothingmore。Hecangivenoexplanationoftheyoungman’slastwords，`TheProfessor——
　　itwasshe，’butimaginesthattheyweretheoutcomeofdelirium。
　　HebelievesthatWilloughbySmithhadnotanenemyintheworld，andcangivenoreasonforthecrime。HisfirstactionwastosendMortimerthegardenerforthelocalpolice。Alittlelaterthechiefconstablesentforme。NothingwasmovedbeforeI
　　gotthere，andstrictordersweregiventhatnooneshouldwalkuponthepathsleadingtothehouse。Itwasasplendidchanceofputtingyourtheoriesintopractice，Mr。SherlockHolmes。
　　Therewasreallynothingwanting。"
　　"ExceptMr。SherlockHolmes，"saidmycompanion，withasomewhatbittersmile。"Well，letushearaboutit。Whatsortofjobdidyoumakeofit？"
　　"Imustaskyoufirst，Mr。Holmes，toglanceatthisroughplan，whichwillgiveyouageneralideaofthepositionoftheProfessor’sstudyandthevariouspointsofthecase。
　　Itwillhelpyouinfollowingmyinvestigation。"
　　Heunfoldedtheroughchart，whichIherereproduce，andhelaiditacrossHolmes’sknee。Irose，and，standingbehindHolmes，Istudieditoverhisshoulder。
　　GRAPHIC
　　"Itisveryrough，ofcourse，anditonlydealswiththepointswhichseemtometobeessential。Alltherestyouwillseelaterforyourself。Now，firstofall，presumingthattheassassinenteredthehouse，howdidheorshecomein？
　　Undoubtedlybythegardenpathandthebackdoor，fromwhichthereisdirectaccesstothestudy。Anyotherwaywouldhavebeenexceedinglycomplicated。Theescapemusthavealsobeenmadealongthatline，forofthetwootherexitsfromtheroomonewasblockedbySusanassherandownstairsandtheotherleadsstraighttotheProfessor’sbedroom。Ithereforedirectedmyattentionatoncetothegardenpath，whichwassaturatedwithrecentrainandwouldcertainlyshowanyfootmarks。
　　"MyexaminationshowedmethatIwasdealingwithacautiousandexpertcriminal。Nofootmarksweretobefoundonthepath。
　　Therecouldbenoquestion，however，thatsomeonehadpassedalongthegrassborderwhichlinesthepath，andthathehaddonesoinordertoavoidleavingatrack。Icouldnotfindanythinginthenatureofadistinctimpression，butthegrasswastroddendownandsomeonehadundoubtedlypassed。Itcouldonlyhavebeenthemurderer，sinceneitherthegardenernoranyoneelsehadbeentherethatmorningandtherainhadonlybegunduringthenight。"
　　"Onemoment，"saidHolmes。"Wheredoesthispathleadto？"
　　"Totheroad。"
　　"Howlongisit？"
　　"Ahundredyardsorso。"
　　"Atthepointwherethepathpassesthroughthegateyoucouldsurelypickupthetracks？"
　　"Unfortunately，thepathwastiledatthatpoint。"
　　"Well，ontheroaditself？"
　　"No；itwasalltroddenintomire。"
　　"Tut—tut！Well，then，thesetracksuponthegrass，weretheycomingorgoing？"
　　"Itwasimpossibletosay。Therewasneveranyoutline。"
　　"Alargefootorasmall？"
　　"Youcouldnotdistinguish。"
　　Holmesgaveanejaculationofimpatience。
　　"Ithasbeenpouringrainandblowingahurricaneeversince，"
　　saidhe。"Itwillbehardertoreadnowthanthatpalimpsest。
　　Well，well，itcan’tbehelped。Whatdidyoudo，Hopkins，afteryouhadmadecertainthatyouhadmadecertainofnothing？"
　　"IthinkImadecertainofagooddeal，Mr。Holmes。
　　Iknewthatsomeonehadenteredthehousecautiouslyfromwithout。
　　Inextexaminedthecorridor。Itislinedwithcocoanutmattingandhadtakennoimpressionofanykind。Thisbroughtmeintothestudyitself。Itisascantily—furnishedroom。Themainarticleisalargewriting—tablewithafixedbureau。Thisbureauconsistsofadoublecolumnofdrawerswithacentralsmallcupboardbetweenthem。Thedrawerswereopen，thecupboardlocked。
　　Thedrawers，itseems，werealwaysopen，andnothingofvaluewaskeptinthem。Thereweresomepapersofimportanceinthecupboard，buttherewerenosignsthatthishadbeentamperedwith，andtheProfessorassuresmethatnothingwasmissing。Itiscertainthatnorobberyhasbeencommitted。
　　"Icomenowtothebodyoftheyoungman。
　　Itwasfoundnearthebureau，andjusttotheleftofit，asmarkeduponthatchart。Thestabwasontherightsideoftheneckandfrombehindforwards，sothatitisalmostimpossiblethatitcouldhavebeenself—inflicted。"
　　"Unlesshefellupontheknife，"saidHolmes。
　　"Exactly。Theideacrossedmymind。Butwefoundtheknifesomefeetawayfromthebody，sothatseemsimpossible。Then，ofcourse，therearetheman’sowndyingwords。And，finally，therewasthisveryimportantpieceofevidencewhichwasfoundclaspedinthedeadman’srighthand。"
　　FromhispocketStanleyHopkinsdrewasmallpaperpacket。
　　Heunfoldeditanddisclosedagoldenpince—nez，withtwobrokenendsofblacksilkcorddanglingfromtheendofit。
　　"WilloughbySmithhadexcellentsight，"headded。"Therecanbenoquestionthatthiswassnatchedfromthefaceorthepersonoftheassassin。"
　　SherlockHolmestooktheglassesintohishandandexaminedthemwiththeutmostattentionandinterest。Heheldthemonhisnose，endeavouredtoreadthroughthem，wenttothewindowandstaredupthestreetwiththem，lookedatthemmostminutelyinthefulllightofthelamp，andfinally，withachuckle，seatedhimselfatthetableandwroteafewlinesuponasheetofpaper，whichhetossedacrosstoStanleyHopkins。
　　"That’sthebestIcandoforyou，"saidhe。
　　"Itmayprovetobeofsomeuse。"
　　Theastonisheddetectivereadthenotealoud。Itranasfollows：——
　　"Wanted，awomanofgoodaddress，attiredlikealady。
　　Shehasaremarkablythicknose，witheyeswhicharesetcloseuponeithersideofit。Shehasapuckeredforehead，apeeringexpression，andprobablyroundedshoulders。Thereareindicationsthatshehashadrecoursetoanopticianatleasttwiceduringthelastfewmonths。Asherglassesareofremarkablestrengthandasopticiansarenotverynumerous，thereshouldbenodifficultyintracingher。"
　　HolmessmiledattheastonishmentofHopkins，whichmusthavebeenreflecteduponmyfeatures。
　　"Surelymydeductionsaresimplicityitself，"saidhe。
　　"Itwouldbedifficulttonameanyarticleswhichaffordafinerfieldforinferencethanapairofglasses，especiallysoremarkableapairasthese。ThattheybelongtoawomanI
　　inferfromtheirdelicacy，andalso，ofcourse，fromthelastwordsofthedyingman。Astoherbeingapersonofrefinementandwelldressed，theyare，asyouperceive，handsomelymountedinsolidgold，anditisinconceivablethatanyonewhoworesuchglassescouldbeslatternlyinotherrespects。Youwillfindthattheclipsaretoowideforyournose，showingthatthelady’snosewasverybroadatthebase。Thissortofnoseisusuallyashortandcoarseone，butthereareasufficientnumberofexceptionstopreventmefrombeingdogmaticorfrominsistinguponthispointinmydescription。Myownfaceisanarrowone，andyetIfindthatIcannotgetmyeyesintothecentre，ornearthecentre，oftheseglasses。Thereforethelady’seyesaresetveryneartothesidesofthenose。Youwillperceive，Watson，thattheglassesareconcaveandofunusualstrength。
　　Aladywhosevisionhasbeensoextremelycontractedallherlifeissuretohavethephysicalcharacteristicsofsuchvision，whichareseenintheforehead，theeyelids，andtheshoulders。"
　　"Yes，"Isaid，"Icanfolloweachofyourarguments。Iconfess，however，thatIamunabletounderstandhowyouarriveatthedoublevisittotheoptician。"
　　Holmestooktheglassesinhishand。
　　"Youwillperceive，"hesaid，"thattheclipsarelinedwithtinybandsofcorktosoftenthepressureuponthenose。Oneoftheseisdiscolouredandworntosomeslightextent，buttheotherisnew。Evidentlyonehasfallenoffandbeenreplaced。
　　Ishouldjudgethattheolderofthemhasnotbeentheremorethanafewmonths。Theyexactlycorrespond，soIgatherthattheladywentbacktothesameestablishmentforthesecond。"
　　"ByGeorge，it’smarvellous！"criedHopkins，inanecstasyofadmiration。"TothinkthatIhadallthatevidenceinmyhandandneverknewit！Ihadintended，however，togotheroundoftheLondonopticians。"
　　"Ofcourseyouwould。Meanwhile，haveyouanythingmoretotellusaboutthecase？"
　　"Nothing，Mr。Holmes。IthinkthatyouknowasmuchasIdonow——probablymore。Wehavehadinquiriesmadeastoanystrangerseenonthecountryroadsorattherailwaystation。
　　Wehaveheardofnone。Whatbeatsmeistheutterwantofallobjectinthecrime。Notaghostofamotivecananyonesuggest。"
　　"Ah！thereIamnotinapositiontohelpyou。ButIsupposeyouwantustocomeoutto—morrow？"
　　"Ifitisnotaskingtoomuch，Mr。Holmes。There’satrainfromCharingCrosstoChathamatsixinthemorning，andweshouldbeatYoxleyOldPlacebetweeneightandnine。"
　　"Thenweshalltakeit。Yourcasehascertainlysomefeaturesofgreatinterest，andIshallbedelightedtolookintoit。
　　Well，it’snearlyone，andwehadbestgetafewhours’sleep。
　　Idaresayyoucanmanageallrightonthesofainfrontofthefire。I’lllightmyspirit—lampandgiveyouacupofcoffeebeforewestart。"
　　Thegalehadblownitselfoutnextday，butitwasabittermorningwhenwestarteduponourjourney。WesawthecoldwintersunriseoverthedrearymarshesoftheThamesandthelong，sullenreachesoftheriver，whichIshalleverassociatewithourpursuitoftheAndamanIslanderintheearlierdaysofourcareer。AfteralongandwearyjourneywealightedatasmallstationsomemilesfromChatham。Whileahorsewasbeingputintoatrapatthelocalinnwesnatchedahurriedbreakfast，andsowewereallreadyforbusinesswhenweatlastarrivedatYoxleyOldPlace。Aconstablemetusatthegardengate。
　　"Well，Wilson，anynews？"
　　"No，sir，nothing。"
　　"Noreportsofanystrangerseen？"
　　"No，sir。Downatthestationtheyarecertainthatnostrangereithercameorwentyesterday。"
　　"Haveyouhadinquiriesmadeatinnsandlodgings？"
　　"Yes，sir；thereisnoonethatwecannotaccountfor。"
　　"Well，it’sonlyareasonablewalktoChatham。Anyonemightstaythere，ortakeatrainwithoutbeingobserved。ThisisthegardenpathofwhichIspoke，Mr。Holmes。I’llpledgemywordtherewasnomarkonityesterday。"
　　"Onwhichsidewerethemarksonthegrass？"
　　"Thisside，sir。Thisnarrowmarginofgrassbetweenthepathandtheflower—bed。Ican’tseethetracesnow，buttheywerecleartomethen。"
　　"Yes，yes；someonehaspassedalong，"saidHolmes，stoopingoverthegrassborder。"Ourladymusthavepickedherstepscarefully，mustshenot，sinceontheonesideshewouldleaveatrackonthepath，andontheotheranevencleareroneonthesoftbed？"
　　"Yes，sir，shemusthavebeenacoolhand。"
　　IsawanintentlookpassoverHolmes’sface。
　　"Yousaythatshemusthavecomebackthisway？"
　　"Yes，sir；thereisnoother。"
　　"Onthisstripofgrass？"
　　"Certainly，Mr。Holmes。"
　　"Hum！Itwasaveryremarkableperformance——veryremarkable。
　　Well，Ithinkwehaveexhaustedthepath。Letusgofarther。
　　Thisgardendoorisusuallykeptopen，Isuppose？Thenthisvisitorhadnothingtodobuttowalkin。Theideaofmurderwasnotinhermind，orshewouldhaveprovidedherselfwithsomesortofweapon，insteadofhavingtopickthisknifeoffthewriting—table。Sheadvancedalongthiscorridor，leavingnotracesuponthecocoanutmatting。Thenshefoundherselfinthisstudy。Howlongwasshethere？Wehavenomeansofjudging。"
　　"Notmorethanafewminutes，sir。IforgottotellyouthatMrs。Marker，thehousekeeper，hadbeenintheretidyingnotverylongbefore——aboutaquarterofanhour，shesays。"
　　"Well，thatgivesusalimit。Ourladyentersthisroomandwhatdoesshedo？Shegoesovertothewriting—table。
　　Whatfor？Notforanythinginthedrawers。Iftherehadbeenanythingworthhertakingitwouldsurelyhavebeenlockedup。
　　No；itwasforsomethinginthatwoodenbureau。Halloa！whatisthatscratchuponthefaceofit？Justholdamatch，Watson。
　　Whydidyounottellmeofthis，Hopkins？"
　　Themarkwhichhewasexaminingbeganuponthebrassworkontheright—handsideofthekeyhole，andextendedforaboutfourinches，whereithadscratchedthevarnishfromthesurface。
　　"Inoticedit，Mr。Holmes。Butyou’llalwaysfindscratchesroundakeyhole。"
　　"Thisisrecent，quiterecent。Seehowthebrassshineswhereitiscut。Anoldscratchwouldbethesamecolourasthesurface。
　　Lookatitthroughmylens。There’sthevarnish，too，likeearthoneachsideofafurrow。IsMrs。Markerthere？"
　　Asad—faced，elderlywomancameintotheroom。
　　"Didyoudustthisbureauyesterdaymorning？"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Didyounoticethisscratch？"
　　"No，sir，Ididnot。"
　　"Iamsureyoudidnot，foradusterwouldhavesweptawaytheseshredsofvarnish。Whohasthekeyofthisbureau？"
　　"TheProfessorkeepsitonhiswatch—chain。"
　　"Isitasimplekey？"
　　"No，sir；itisaChubb’skey。"
　　"Verygood。Mrs。Marker，youcango。Nowwearemakingalittleprogress。Ourladyenterstheroom，advancestothebureau，andeitheropensitortriestodoso。WhilesheisthusengagedyoungWilloughbySmithenterstheroom。Inherhurrytowithdrawthekeyshemakesthisscratchuponthedoor。
　　Heseizesher，andshe，snatchingupthenearestobject，whichhappenstobethisknife，strikesathiminordertomakehimletgohishold。Theblowisafatalone。Hefallsandsheescapes，eitherwithorwithouttheobjectforwhichshehascome。IsSusanthemaidthere？Couldanyonehavegotawaythroughthatdoorafterthetimethatyouheardthecry，Susan？"
　　"Nosir；itisimpossible。BeforeIgotdownthestairI’dhaveseenanyoneinthepassage。Besides，thedoorneveropened，forIwouldhaveheardit。"
　　"Thatsettlesthisexit。Thennodoubttheladywentoutthewayshecame。IunderstandthatthisotherpassageleadsonlytotheProfessor’sroom。Thereisnoexitthatway？"
　　"No，sir。"
　　"WeshallgodownitandmaketheacquaintanceoftheProfessor。
　　Halloa，Hopkins！thisisveryimportant，veryimportantindeed。
　　TheProfessor’scorridorisalsolinedwithcocoanutmatting。"
　　"Well，sir，whatofthat？"
　　"Don’tyouseeanybearinguponthecase？Well，well，Idon’tinsistuponit。NodoubtIamwrong。Andyetitseemstometobesuggestive。Comewithmeandintroduceme。"
　　Wepasseddownthepassage，whichwasofthesamelengthasthatwhichledtothegarden。Attheendwasashortflightofstepsendinginadoor。Ourguideknocked，andthenusheredusintotheProfessor’sbedroom。
　　Itwasaverylargechamber，linedwithinnumerablevolumes，whichhadoverflowedfromtheshelvesandlayinpilesinthecorners，orwerestackedallroundatthebaseofthecases。
　　Thebedwasinthecentreoftheroom，andinit，proppedupwithpillows，wastheownerofthehouse。Ihaveseldomseenamoreremarkable—lookingperson。Itwasagaunt，aquilinefacewhichwasturnedtowardsus，withpiercingdarkeyes，whichlurkedindeephollowsunderoverhungandtuftedbrows。Hishairandbeardwerewhite，savethatthelatterwascuriouslystainedwithyellowaroundhismouth。Acigaretteglowedamidthetangleofwhitehair，andtheairoftheroomwasfetidwithstaletobacco—smoke。AsheheldouthishandtoHolmesIperceivedthatitalsowasstainedyellowwithnicotine。
　　"Asmoker，Mr。Holmes？"saidhe，speakingwell—chosenEnglishwithacuriouslittlemincingaccent。"Praytakeacigarette。
　　Andyou，sir？Icanrecommendthem，forIhavethemespeciallypreparedbyIonidesofAlexandria。Hesendsmeathousandatatime，andIgrievetosaythatIhavetoarrangeforafreshsupplyeveryfortnight。Bad，sir，verybad，butanoldmanhasfewpleasures。Tobaccoandmywork——thatisallthatislefttome。"
　　Holmeshadlitacigarette，andwasshootinglittledartingglancesallovertheroom。
　　"Tobaccoandmywork，butnowonlytobacco，"theoldmanexclaimed。
　　"Alas！whatafatalinterruption！Whocouldhaveforeseensuchaterriblecatastrophe？Soestimableayoungman！Iassureyouthatafterafewmonths’traininghewasanadmirableassistant。
　　Whatdoyouthinkofthematter，Mr。Holmes？"
　　"Ihavenotyetmadeupmymind。"
　　"Ishallindeedbeindebtedtoyouifyoucanthrowalightwhereallissodarktous。Toapoorbookwormandinvalidlikemyselfsuchablowisparalyzing。Iseemtohavelostthefacultyofthought。Butyouareamanofaction——youareamanofaffairs。Itispartoftheeverydayroutineofyourlife。
　　Youcanpreserveyourbalanceineveryemergency。Wearefortunateindeedinhavingyouatourside。"
　　HolmeswaspacingupanddownonesideoftheroomwhilsttheoldProfessorwastalking。Iobservedthathewassmokingwithextraordinaryrapidity。Itwasevidentthathesharedourhost’slikingforthefreshAlexandriancigarettes。
　　"Yes，sir，itisacrushingblow，"saidtheoldman。"ThatismyMAGNUMOPUS——thepileofpapersonthesidetableyonder。
　　ItismyanalysisofthedocumentsfoundintheCopticmonasteriesofSyriaandEgypt，aworkwhichwillcutdeepattheveryfoundationsofrevealedreligion。WithmyenfeebledhealthIdonotknowwhetherIshalleverbeabletocompleteitnowthatmyassistanthasbeentakenfromme。Dearme，Mr。Holmes；
　　why，youareevenaquickersmokerthanIammyself。"
　　Holmessmiled。
　　"Iamaconnoisseur，"saidhe，takinganothercigarettefromthebox——hisfourth——andlightingitfromthestubofthatwhichhehadfinished。"Iwillnottroubleyouwithanylengthycross—examination，ProfessorCoram，sinceIgatherthatyouwereinbedatthetimeofthecrimeandcouldknownothingaboutit。
　　Iwouldonlyaskthis。Whatdoyouimaginethatthispoorfellowmeantbyhislastwords：`TheProfessor——itwasshe’？"
　　TheProfessorshookhishead。