"Susanisacountrygirl，"saidhe，"andyouknowtheincrediblestupidityofthatclass。Ifancythatthepoorfellowmurmuredsomeincoherentdeliriouswords，andthatshetwistedthemintothismeaninglessmessage。"
　　"Isee。Youhavenoexplanationyourselfofthetragedy？"
　　"Possiblyanaccident；possibly——Ionlybreatheitamongourselves——asuicide。Youngmenhavetheirhiddentroubles——
　　someaffairoftheheart，perhaps，whichwehaveneverknown。
　　Itisamoreprobablesuppositionthanmurder。"
　　"Buttheeye—glasses？"
　　"Ah！Iamonlyastudent——amanofdreams。Icannotexplainthepracticalthingsoflife。Butstill，weareaware，myfriend，thatlove—gagesmaytakestrangeshapes。Byallmeanstakeanothercigarette。Itisapleasuretoseeanyoneappreciatethemso。Afan，aglove，glasses——whoknowswhatarticlemaybecarriedasatokenortreasuredwhenamanputsanendtohislife？Thisgentlemanspeaksoffootstepsinthegrass；but，afterall，itiseasytobemistakenonsuchapoint。Astotheknife，itmightwellbethrownfarfromtheunfortunatemanashefell。
　　ItispossiblethatIspeakasachild，buttomeitseemsthatWilloughbySmithhasmethisfatebyhisownhand。"
　　Holmesseemedstruckbythetheorythusputforward，andhecontinuedtowalkupanddownforsometime，lostinthoughtandconsumingcigaretteaftercigarette。
　　"Tellme，ProfessorCoram，"hesaid，atlast，"whatisinthatcupboardinthebureau？"
　　"Nothingthatwouldhelpathief。Familypapers，lettersfrommypoorwife，diplomasofUniversitieswhichhavedonemehonour。
　　Hereisthekey。Youcanlookforyourself。"
　　Holmespickedupthekeyandlookedatitforaninstant；
　　thenhehandeditback。
　　"No；Ihardlythinkthatitwouldhelpme，"saidhe。"Ishouldprefertogoquietlydowntoyourgardenandturnthewholematteroverinmyhead。Thereissomethingtobesaidforthetheoryofsuicidewhichyouhaveputforward。Wemustapologizeforhavingintrudeduponyou，ProfessorCoram，andIpromisethatwewon’tdisturbyouuntilafterlunch。Attwoo’clockwewillcomeagainandreporttoyouanythingwhichmayhavehappenedintheinterval。"
　　Holmeswascuriouslydistrait，andwewalkedupanddownthegardenpathforsometimeinsilence。
　　"Haveyouaclue？"Iasked，atlast。
　　"ItdependsuponthosecigarettesthatIsmoked，"saidhe。
　　"ItispossiblethatIamutterlymistaken。Thecigaretteswillshowme。"
　　"MydearHolmes，"Iexclaimed，"howonearth————"
　　"Well，well，youmayseeforyourself。Ifnot，there’snoharmdone。Ofcourse，wealwayshavetheopticiancluetofallbackupon，butItakeashortcutwhenIcangetit。Ah，hereisthegoodMrs。Marker！Letusenjoyfiveminutesofinstructiveconversationwithher。"
　　ImayhaveremarkedbeforethatHolmeshad，whenheliked，apeculiarlyingratiatingwaywithwomen，andthatheveryreadilyestablishedtermsofconfidencewiththem。Inhalfthetimewhichhehadnamedhehadcapturedthehousekeeper’sgoodwill，andwaschattingwithherasifhehadknownherforyears。
　　"Yes，Mr。Holmes，itisasyousay，sir。Hedoessmokesomethingterrible。Alldayandsometimesallnight，sir。
　　I’veseenthatroomofamorning——well，sir，you’dhavethoughtitwasaLondonfog。PooryoungMr。Smith，hewasasmokeralso，butnotasbadastheProfessor。Hishealth——well，Idon’tknowthatit’sbetternorworseforthesmoking。"
　　"Ah！"saidHolmes，"butitkillstheappetite。"
　　"Well，Idon’tknowaboutthat，sir。"
　　"IsupposetheProfessoreatshardlyanything？"
　　"Well，heisvariable。I’llsaythatforhim。"
　　"I’llwagerhetooknobreakfastthismorning，andwon’tfacehislunchafterallthecigarettesIsawhimconsume。"
　　"Well，you’reoutthere，sir，asithappens，forheatearemarkablebigbreakfastthismorning。Idon’tknowwhenI’veknownhimmakeabetterone，andhe’sorderedagooddishofcutletsforhislunch。
　　I’msurprisedmyself，forsinceIcameintothatroomyesterdayandsawyoungMr。SmithlyingthereonthefloorIcouldn’tbeartolookatfood。Well，ittakesallsortstomakeaworld，andtheProfessorhasn’tletittakehisappetiteaway。"
　　Weloiteredthemorningawayinthegarden。StanleyHopkinshadgonedowntothevillagetolookintosomerumoursofastrangewomanwhohadbeenseenbysomechildrenontheChathamRoadthepreviousmorning。Astomyfriend，allhisusualenergyseemedtohavedesertedhim。Ihadneverknownhimhandleacaseinsuchahalf—heartedfashion。EventhenewsbroughtbackbyHopkinsthathehadfoundthechildrenandthattheyhadundoubtedlyseenawomanexactlycorrespondingwithHolmes’sdescription，andwearingeitherspectaclesoreye—glasses，failedtorouseanysignofkeeninterest。HewasmoreattentivewhenSusan，whowaiteduponusatlunch，volunteeredtheinformationthatshebelievedMr。Smithhadbeenoutforawalkyesterdaymorning，andthathehadonlyreturnedhalfanhourbeforethetragedyoccurred。Icouldnotmyselfseethebearingofthisincident，butIclearlyperceivedthatHolmeswasweavingitintothegeneralschemewhichhehadformedinhisbrain。
　　Suddenlyhesprangfromhischairandglancedathiswatch。
　　"Twoo’clock，gentlemen，"saidhe。"WemustgoupandhaveitoutwithourfriendtheProfessor。"
　　Theoldmanhadjustfinishedhislunch，andcertainlyhisemptydishboreevidencetothegoodappetitewithwhichhishousekeeperhadcreditedhim。Hewas，indeed，aweirdfigureasheturnedhiswhitemaneandhisglowingeyestowardsus。
　　Theeternalcigarettesmoulderedinhismouth。Hehadbeendressedandwasseatedinanarm—chairbythefire。
　　"Well，Mr。Holmes，haveyousolvedthismysteryyet？"Heshovedthelargetinofcigaretteswhichstoodonatablebesidehimtowardsmycompanion。Holmesstretchedouthishandatthesamemoment，andbetweenthemtheytippedtheboxovertheedge。
　　Foraminuteortwowewereallonourkneesretrievingstraycigarettesfromimpossibleplaces。WhenweroseagainIobservedthatHolmes’seyeswereshiningandhischeekstingedwithcolour。
　　OnlyatacrisishaveIseenthosebattle—signalsflying。
　　"Yes，"saidhe，"Ihavesolvedit。"
　　StanleyHopkinsandIstaredinamazement。SomethinglikeasneerquiveredoverthegauntfeaturesoftheoldProfessor。
　　"Indeed！Inthegarden？"
　　"No，here。"
　　"Here！When？"
　　"Thisinstant。"
　　"Youaresurelyjoking，Mr。SherlockHolmes。Youcompelmetotellyouthatthisistooseriousamattertobetreatedinsuchafashion。"
　　"Ihaveforgedandtestedeverylinkofmychain，ProfessorCoram，andIamsurethatitissound。WhatyourmotivesareorwhatexactpartyouplayinthisstrangebusinessIamnotyetabletosay。InafewminutesIshallprobablyhearitfromyourownlips。
　　MeanwhileIwillreconstructwhatispastforyourbenefit，sothatyoumayknowtheinformationwhichIstillrequire。
　　"Aladyyesterdayenteredyourstudy。Shecamewiththeintentionofpossessingherselfofcertaindocumentswhichwereinyourbureau。Shehadakeyofherown。Ihavehadanopportunityofexaminingyours，andIdonotfindthatslightdiscolourationwhichthescratchmadeuponthevarnishwouldhaveproduced。
　　Youwerenotanaccessory，therefore，andshecame，sofarasIcanreadtheevidence，withoutyourknowledgetorobyou。"
　　TheProfessorblewacloudfromhislips。"Thisismostinterestingandinstructive，"saidhe。"Haveyounomoretoadd？
　　Surely，havingtracedthisladysofar，youcanalsosaywhathasbecomeofher。"
　　"Iwillendeavourtodoso。Inthefirstplaceshewasseizedbyyoursecretary，andstabbedhiminordertoescape。
　　ThiscatastropheIaminclinedtoregardasanunhappyaccident，forIamconvincedthattheladyhadnointentionofinflictingsogrievousaninjury。Anassassindoesnotcomeunarmed。
　　Horrifiedbywhatshehaddonesherushedwildlyawayfromthesceneofthetragedy。Unfortunatelyforhershehadlostherglassesinthescuffle，andasshewasextremelyshort—sightedshewasreallyhelplesswithoutthem。Sherandownacorridor，whichsheimaginedtobethatbywhichshehadcome——bothwerelinedwithcocoanutmatting——anditwasonlywhenitwastoolatethatsheunderstoodthatshehadtakenthewrongpassageandthatherretreatwascutoffbehindher。Whatwasshetodo？
　　Shecouldnotgoback。Shecouldnotremainwhereshewas。
　　Shemustgoon。Shewenton。Shemountedastair，pushedopenadoor，andfoundherselfinyourroom。"
　　TheoldmansatwithhismouthopenstaringwildlyatHolmes。
　　Amazementandfearwerestampeduponhisexpressivefeatures。
　　Now，withaneffort，heshruggedhisshouldersandburstintoinsincerelaughter。
　　"Allveryfine，Mr。Holmes，"saidhe。"Butthereisonelittleflawinyoursplendidtheory。Iwasmyselfinmyroom，andIneverleftitduringtheday。"
　　"Iamawareofthat，ProfessorCoram。"
　　"AndyoumeantosaythatIcouldlieuponthatbedandnotbeawarethatawomanhadenteredmyroom？"
　　"Ineversaidso。YouWEREawareofit。Youspokewithher。
　　Yourecognisedher。Youaidedhertoescape。"
　　AgaintheProfessorburstintohigh—keyedlaughter。
　　Hehadrisentohisfeetandhiseyesglowedlikeembers。
　　"Youaremad！"hecried。"Youaretalkinginsanely。
　　Ihelpedhertoescape？Whereisshenow？"
　　"Sheisthere，"saidHolmes，andhepointedtoahighbookcaseinthecorneroftheroom。
　　Isawtheoldmanthrowuphisarms，aterribleconvulsionpassedoverhisgrimface，andhefellbackinhischair。
　　AtthesameinstantthebookcaseatwhichHolmespointedswungrounduponahinge，andawomanrushedoutintotheroom。
　　"Youareright！"shecried，inastrangeforeignvoice。
　　"Youareright！Iamhere。"
　　Shewasbrownwiththedustanddrapedwiththecobwebswhichhadcomefromthewallsofherhiding—place。Herface，too，wasstreakedwithgrime，andatthebestshecouldneverhavebeenhandsome，forshehadtheexactphysicalcharacteristicswhichHolmeshaddivined，with，inaddition，alongandobstinatechin。
　　Whatwithhernaturalblindness，andwhatwiththechangefromdarktolight，shestoodasonedazed，blinkingabouthertoseewhereandwhowewere。Andyet，inspiteofallthesedisadvantages，therewasacertainnobilityinthewoman’sbearing，agallantryinthedefiantchinandintheupraisedhead，whichcompelledsomethingofrespectandadmiration。StanleyHopkinshadlaidhishanduponherarmandclaimedherashisprisoner，butshewavedhimasidegently，andyetwithanovermasteringdignitywhichcompelledobedience。Theoldmanlaybackinhischair，withatwitchingface，andstaredatherwithbroodingeyes。
　　"Yes，sir，Iamyourprisoner，"shesaid。"FromwhereIstoodIcouldheareverything，andIknowthatyouhavelearnedthetruth。Iconfessitall。ItwasIwhokilledtheyoungman。
　　Butyouareright，youwhosayitwasanaccident。IdidnotevenknowthatitwasaknifewhichIheldinmyhand，forinmydespairIsnatchedanythingfromthetableandstruckathimtomakehimletmego。ItisthetruththatItell。"
　　"Madam，"saidHolmes，"Iamsurethatitisthetruth。
　　Ifearthatyouarefarfromwell。"
　　Shehadturnedadreadfulcolour，themoreghastlyunderthedarkdust—streaksuponherface。Sheseatedherselfonthesideofthebed；thensheresumed。
　　"Ihaveonlyalittletimehere，"shesaid，"butIwouldhaveyoutoknowthewholetruth。Iamthisman’swife。HeisnotanEnglishman。HeisaRussian。HisnameIwillnottell。"
　　Forthefirsttimetheoldmanstirred。"Godblessyou，Anna！"
　　hecried。"Godblessyou！"
　　Shecastalookofthedeepestdisdaininhisdirection。
　　"Whyshouldyouclingsohardtothatwretchedlifeofyours，Sergius？"saidshe。"Ithasdoneharmtomanyandgoodtonone——noteventoyourself。However，itisnotformetocausethefrailthreadtobesnappedbeforeGod’stime。
　　IhaveenoughalreadyuponmysoulsinceIcrossedthethresholdofthiscursedhouse。ButImustspeakorIshallbetoolate。
　　"Ihavesaid，gentlemen，thatIamthisman’swife。HewasfiftyandIafoolishgirloftwentywhenwemarried。ItwasinacityofRussia，aUniversity——Iwillnotnametheplace。"
　　"Godblessyou，Anna！"murmuredtheoldmanagain。
　　"Wewerereformers——revolutionists——Nihilists，youunderstand。
　　HeandIandmanymore。Thentherecameatimeoftrouble，apoliceofficerwaskilled，manywerearrested，evidencewaswanted，andinordertosavehisownlifeandtoearnagreatrewardmyhusbandbetrayedhisownwifeandhiscompanions。
　　Yes，wewereallarresteduponhisconfession。SomeofusfoundourwaytothegallowsandsometoSiberia。Iwasamongtheselast，butmytermwasnotforlife。MyhusbandcametoEnglandwithhisill—gottengains，andhaslivedinquieteversince，knowingwellthatiftheBrotherhoodknewwherehewasnotaweekwouldpassbeforejusticewouldbedone。"
　　Theoldmanreachedoutatremblinghandandhelpedhimselftoacigarette。"Iaminyourhands，Anna，"saidhe。
　　"Youwerealwaysgoodtome。"
　　"Ihavenotyettoldyoutheheightofhisvillainy，"saidshe。
　　"AmongourcomradesoftheOrdertherewasonewhowasthefriendofmyheart。Hewasnoble，unselfish，loving——allthatmyhusbandwasnot。Hehatedviolence。Wewereallguilty——
　　ifthatisguilt——buthewasnot。Hewroteforeverdissuadingusfromsuchacourse。Theseletterswouldhavesavedhim。
　　Sowouldmydiary，inwhichfromdaytodayIhadenteredbothmyfeelingstowardshimandtheviewwhicheachofushadtaken。
　　Myhusbandfoundandkeptbothdiaryandletters。Hehidthem，andhetriedhardtoswearawaytheyoungman’slife。Inthishefailed，butAlexiswassentaconvicttoSiberia，wherenow，atthismoment，heworksinasaltmine。Thinkofthat，youvillain，youvillain；now，now，atthisverymoment，Alexis，amanwhosenameyouarenotworthytospeak，worksandliveslikeaslave，andyetIhaveyourlifeinmyhandsandIletyougo。"
　　"Youwerealwaysanoblewoman，Anna，"saidtheoldman，puffingathiscigarette。
　　Shehadrisen，butshefellbackagainwithalittlecryofpain。
　　"Imustfinish，"shesaid。"WhenmytermwasoverIsetmyselftogetthediaryandletterswhich，ifsenttotheRussianGovernment，wouldprocuremyfriend’srelease。IknewthatmyhusbandhadcometoEngland。AftermonthsofsearchingI
　　discoveredwherehewas。Iknewthathestillhadthediary，forwhenIwasinSiberiaIhadaletterfromhimoncereproachingmeandquotingsomepassagesfromitspages。
　　YetIwassurethatwithhisrevengefulnaturehewouldnevergiveittomeofhisownfreewill。Imustgetitformyself。
　　WiththisobjectIengagedanagentfromaprivatedetectivefirm，whoenteredmyhusband’shouseassecretary——itwasyoursecondsecretary，Sergius，theonewholeftyousohurriedly。
　　Hefoundthatpaperswerekeptinthecupboard，andhegotanimpressionofthekey。Hewouldnotgofarther。Hefurnishedmewithaplanofthehouse，andhetoldmethatintheforenoonthestudywasalwaysempty，asthesecretarywasemployeduphere。
　　SoatlastItookmycourageinbothhandsandIcamedowntogetthepapersformyself。Isucceeded，butatwhatacost！
　　"Ihadjusttakenthepapersandwaslockingthecupboardwhentheyoungmanseizedme。Ihadseenhimalreadythatmorning。
　　HehadmetmeintheroadandIhadaskedhimtotellmewhereProfessorCoramlived，notknowingthathewasinhisemploy。"
　　"Exactly！exactly！"saidHolmes。"Thesecretarycamebackandtoldhisemployerofthewomanhehadmet。Theninhislastbreathhetriedtosendamessagethatitwasshe——theshewhomhehadjustdiscussedwithhim。"
　　"Youmustletmespeak，"saidthewoman，inanimperativevoice，andherfacecontractedasifinpain。"WhenhehadfallenIrushedfromtheroom，chosethewrongdoor，andfoundmyselfinmyhusband’sroom。Hespokeofgivingmeup。Ishowedhimthatifhedidsohislifewasinmyhands。IfhegavemetothelawIcouldgivehimtotheBrotherhood。ItwasnotthatIwishedtoliveformyownsake，butitwasthatIdesiredtoaccomplishmypurpose。HeknewthatIwoulddowhatIsaid——
　　thathisownfatewasinvolvedinmine。Forthatreasonandfornootherheshieldedme。Hethrustmeintothatdarkhiding—place，arelicofolddays，knownonlytohimself。
　　Hetookhismealsinhisownroom，andsowasabletogivemepartofhisfood。ItwasagreedthatwhenthepoliceleftthehouseIshouldslipawaybynightandcomebacknomore。
　　Butinsomewayyouhavereadourplans。"Shetorefromthebosomofherdressasmallpacket。"Thesearemylastwords，"
　　saidshe；"hereisthepacketwhichwillsaveAlexis。
　　Iconfideittoyourhonourandtoyourloveofjustice。
　　Takeit！YouwilldeliveritattheRussianEmbassy。
　　NowIhavedonemyduty，and————"
　　"Stopher！"criedHolmes。Hehadboundedacrosstheroomandhadwrenchedasmallphialfromherhand。
　　"Toolate！"shesaid，sinkingbackonthebed。"Toolate！
　　ItookthepoisonbeforeIleftmyhiding—place。Myheadswims！
　　Iamgoing！Ichargeyou，sir，torememberthepacket。"
　　"Asimplecase，andyetinsomewaysaninstructiveone，"
　　Holmesremarked，aswetravelledbacktotown。"Ithingedfromtheoutsetuponthepince—nez。ButforthefortunatechanceofthedyingmanhavingseizedtheseIamnotsurethatwecouldeverhavereachedoursolution。Itwascleartomefromthestrengthoftheglassesthatthewearermusthavebeenveryblindandhelplesswhendeprivedofthem。WhenyouaskedmetobelievethatshewalkedalonganarrowstripofgrasswithoutoncemakingafalsestepIremarked，asyoumayremember，thatitwasanoteworthyperformance。InmymindIsetitdownasanimpossibleperformance，saveintheunlikelycasethatshehadasecondpairofglasses。Iwasforced，therefore，toseriouslyconsiderthehypothesisthatshehadremainedwithinthehouse。
　　Onperceivingthesimilarityofthetwocorridorsitbecameclearthatshemightveryeasilyhavemadesuchamistake，andinthatcaseitwasevidentthatshemusthaveenteredtheProfessor’sroom。Iwaskeenlyonthealert，therefore，forwhateverwouldbearoutthissupposition，andIexaminedtheroomnarrowlyforanythingintheshapeofahiding—place。
　　Thecarpetseemedcontinuousandfirmlynailed，soIdismissedtheideaofatrap—door。Theremightwellbearecessbehindthebooks。Asyouareaware，suchdevicesarecommoninoldlibraries。Iobservedthatbookswerepiledontheflooratallotherpoints，butthatonebookcasewasleftclear。This，then，mightbethedoor。Icouldseenomarkstoguideme，butthecarpetwasofaduncolour，whichlendsitselfverywelltoexamination。Ithereforesmokedagreatnumberofthoseexcellentcigarettes，andIdroppedtheashalloverthespaceinfrontofthesuspectedbookcase。Itwasasimpletrick，butexceedinglyeffective。IthenwentdownstairsandIascertained，inyourpresence，Watson，withoutyourperceivingthedriftofmyremarks，thatProfessorCoram’sconsumptionoffoodhadincreased——asonewouldexpectwhenheissupplyingasecondperson。
　　Wethenascendedtotheroomagain，when，byupsettingthecigarette—box，Iobtainedaveryexcellentviewofthefloor，andwasabletoseequiteclearly，fromthetracesuponthecigaretteash，thattheprisonerhad，inourabsence，comeoutfromherretreat。Well，Hopkins，hereweareatCharingCross，andIcongratulateyouonhavingbroughtyourcasetoasuccessfulconclusion。Youaregoingtohead—quarters，nodoubt。Ithink，Watson，youandIwilldrivetogethertotheRussianEmbassy。"
　　XI。———TheAdventureoftheMissingThree—Quarter。
　　WEwerefairlyaccustomedtoreceiveweirdtelegramsatBakerStreet，butIhaveaparticularrecollectionofonewhichreachedusonagloomyFebruarymorningsomesevenoreightyearsagoandgaveMr。SherlockHolmesapuzzledquarterofanhour。Itwasaddressedtohim，andranthus：——
　　"Pleaseawaitme。Terriblemisfortune。Rightwingthree—quartermissing；indispensabletomorrow。——OVERTON。"
　　"Strandpost—markanddispatchedten—thirty—six，"saidHolmes，readingitoverandover。"Mr。Overtonwasevidentlyconsiderablyexcitedwhenhesentit，andsomewhatincoherentinconsequence。
　　Well，well，hewillbehere，Idaresay，bythetimeIhavelookedthroughtheTIMES，andthenweshallknowallaboutit。Eventhemostinsignificantproblemwouldbewelcomeinthesestagnantdays。"
　　Thingshadindeedbeenveryslowwithus，andIhadlearnedtodreadsuchperiodsofinaction，forIknewbyexperiencethatmycompanion’sbrainwassoabnormallyactivethatitwasdangeroustoleaveitwithoutmaterialuponwhichtowork。
　　ForyearsIhadgraduallyweanedhimfromthatdrugmaniawhichhadthreatenedoncetocheckhisremarkablecareer。NowIknewthatunderordinaryconditionshenolongercravedforthisartificialstimulus，butIwaswellawarethatthefiendwasnotdead，butsleeping；andIhaveknownthatthesleepwasalightoneandthewakingnearwheninperiodsofidlenessIhaveseenthedrawnlookuponHolmes’sasceticface，andthebroodingofhisdeep—setandinscrutableeyes。ThereforeIblessedthisMr。Overton，whoeverhemightbe，sincehehadcomewithhisenigmaticmessagetobreakthatdangerouscalmwhichbroughtmoreperiltomyfriendthanallthestormsofhistempestuouslife。
　　Aswehadexpected，thetelegramwassoonfollowedbyitssender，andthecardofMr。CyrilOverton，ofTrinityCollege，Cambridge，announcedthearrivalofanenormousyoungman，sixteenstoneofsolidboneandmuscle，whospannedthedoorwaywithhisbroadshouldersandlookedfromoneofustotheotherwithacomelyfacewhichwashaggardwithanxiety。
　　"Mr。SherlockHolmes？"
　　Mycompanionbowed。
　　"I’vebeendowntoScotlandYard，Mr。Holmes。
　　IsawInspectorStanleyHopkins。Headvisedmetocometoyou。
　　Hesaidthecase，sofarashecouldsee，wasmoreinyourlinethaninthatoftheregularpolice。"
　　"Praysitdownandtellmewhatisthematter。"
　　"It’sawful，Mr。Holmes，simplyawful！Iwondermyhairisn’tgrey。
　　GodfreyStaunton——you’veheardofhim，ofcourse？He’ssimplythehingethatthewholeteamturnson。I’drathersparetwofromthepackandhaveGodfreyformythree—quarterline。Whetherit’spassing，ortackling，ordribbling，there’snoonetotouchhim；
　　andthen，he’sgottheheadandcanholdusalltogether。
　　WhatamItodo？That’swhatIaskyou，Mr。Holmes。
　　There’sMoorhouse，firstreserve，butheistrainedasahalf，andhealwaysedgesrightinontothescruminsteadofkeepingoutonthetouch—line。He’safineplace—kick，it’strue，but，then，hehasnojudgment，andhecan’tsprintfornuts。
　　Why，MortonorJohnson，theOxfordfliers，couldromproundhim。
　　Stevensonisfastenough，buthecouldn’tdropfromthetwenty—fiveline，andathree—quarterwhocan’teitherpuntordropisn’tworthaplaceforpacealone。No，Mr。Holmes，wearedoneunlessyoucanhelpmetofindGodfreyStaunton。"
　　Myfriendhadlistenedwithamusedsurprisetothislongspeech，whichwaspouredforthwithextraordinaryvigourandearnestness，everypointbeingdrivenhomebytheslappingofabrawnyhanduponthespeaker’sknee。WhenourvisitorwassilentHolmesstretchedouthishandandtookdownletter"S"ofhiscommonplacebook。Foronceheduginvainintothatmineofvariedinformation。