"Iwilltellyouaboutlastnight。Youareaware，perhaps，thatinthishouseallservantssleepinthemodernwing。
　　Thiscentralblockismadeupofthedwelling—rooms，withthekitchenbehindandourbedroomabove。MymaidTheresasleepsabovemyroom。Thereisnooneelse，andnosoundcouldalarmthosewhoareinthefartherwing。Thismusthavebeenwellknowntotherobbers，ortheywouldnothaveactedastheydid。
　　"SirEustaceretiredabouthalf—pastten。Theservantshadalreadygonetotheirquarters。Onlymymaidwasup，andshehadremainedinherroomatthetopofthehouseuntilIneededherservices。Isatuntilaftereleveninthisroom，absorbedinabook。ThenIwalkedroundtoseethatallwasrightbeforeIwentupstairs。Itwasmycustomtodothismyself，for，asIhaveexplained，SirEustacewasnotalwaystobetrusted。
　　Iwentintothekitchen，thebutler’spantry，thegun—room，thebilliard—room，thedrawing—room，andfinallythedining—room。
　　AsIapproachedthewindow，whichiscoveredwiththickcurtains，Isuddenlyfeltthewindblowuponmyfaceandrealizedthatitwasopen。Iflungthecurtainasideandfoundmyselffacetofacewithabroad—shouldered，elderlymanwhohadjuststeppedintotheroom。ThewindowisalongFrenchone，whichreallyformsadoorleadingtothelawn。Iheldmybedroomcandlelitinmyhand，and，byitslight，behindthefirstmanIsawtwoothers，whowereintheactofentering。Isteppedback，butthefellowwasonmeinaninstant。Hecaughtmefirstbythewristandthenbythethroat。Iopenedmymouthtoscream，buthestruckmeasavageblowwithhisfistovertheeye，andfelledmetotheground。Imusthavebeenunconsciousforafewminutes，forwhenIcametomyselfIfoundthattheyhadtorndownthebell—ropeandhadsecuredmetightlytotheoakenchairwhichstandsattheheadofthedining—roomtable。
　　IwassofirmlyboundthatIcouldnotmove，andahandkerchiefroundmymouthpreventedmefromutteringanysound。Itwasatthisinstantthatmyunfortunatehusbandenteredtheroom。
　　Hehadevidentlyheardsomesuspicioussounds，andhecamepreparedforsuchasceneashefound。Hewasdressedinhisshirtandtrousers，withhisfavouriteblackthorncudgelinhishand。Herushedatoneoftheburglars，butanother——itwastheelderlyman——stooped，pickedthepokeroutofthegrate，andstruckhimahorribleblowashepassed。Hefellwithoutagroan，andnevermovedagain。Ifaintedoncemore，butagainitcouldonlyhavebeenaveryfewminutesduringwhichIwasinsensible。WhenIopenedmyeyesIfoundthattheyhadcollectedthesilverfromthesideboard，andtheyhaddrawnabottleofwinewhichstoodthere。Eachofthemhadaglassinhishand。Ihavealreadytoldyou，haveInot，thatonewaselderly，withabeard，andtheothersyoung，hairlesslads。
　　Theymighthavebeenafatherwithhistwosons。Theytalkedtogetherinwhispers。ThentheycameoverandmadesurethatIwasstillsecurelybound。Finallytheywithdrew，closingthewindowafterthem。ItwasquiteaquarterofanhourbeforeIgotmymouthfree。WhenIdidsomyscreamsbroughtthemaidtomyassistance。Theotherservantsweresoonalarmed，andwesentforthelocalpolice，whoinstantlycommunicatedwithLondon。ThatisreallyallthatIcantellyou，gentlemen，andItrustthatitwillnotbenecessaryformetogooversopainfulastoryagain。"
　　"Anyquestions，Mr。Holmes？"askedHopkins。
　　"IwillnotimposeanyfurthertaxuponLadyBrackenstall’spatienceandtime，"saidHolmes。"BeforeIgointothedining—roomIshouldliketohearyourexperience。"
　　Helookedatthemaid。
　　"Isawthemenbeforeevertheycameintothehouse，"saidshe。
　　"AsIsatbymybedroomwindowIsawthreemeninthemoonlightdownbythelodgegateyonder，butIthoughtnothingofitatthetime。ItwasmorethananhourafterthatIheardmymistressscream，anddownIran，tofindher，poorlamb，justasshesays，andhimonthefloorwithhisbloodandbrainsovertheroom。Itwasenoughtodriveawomanoutofherwits，tiedthere，andherverydressspottedwithhim；butsheneverwantedcourage，didMissMaryFraserofAdelaide，andLadyBrackenstallofAbbeyGrangehasn’tlearnednewways。You’vequestionedherlongenough，yougentlemen，andnowsheiscomingtoherownroom，justwithheroldTheresa，togettherestthatshebadlyneeds。"
　　Withamotherlytendernessthegauntwomanputherarmroundhermistressandledherfromtheroom。
　　"Shehasbeenwithherallherlife，"saidHopkins。
　　"Nursedherasababy，andcamewithhertoEnglandwhentheyfirstleftAustraliaeighteenmonthsago。
　　TheresaWrightishername，andthekindofmaidyoudon’tpickupnowadays。Thisway，Mr。Holmes，ifyouplease！"
　　ThekeeninteresthadpassedoutofHolmes’sexpressiveface，andIknewthatwiththemysteryallthecharmofthecasehaddeparted。Therestillremainedanarresttobeeffected，butwhatwerethesecommonplaceroguesthatheshouldsoilhishandswiththem？AnabstruseandlearnedspecialistwhofindsthathehasbeencalledinforacaseofmeasleswouldexperiencesomethingoftheannoyancewhichIreadinmyfriend’seyes。
　　Yetthesceneinthedining—roomoftheAbbeyGrangewassufficientlystrangetoarresthisattentionandtorecallhiswaninginterest。
　　Itwasaverylargeandhighchamber，withcarvedoakceiling，oakenpanelling，andafinearrayofdeer’sheadsandancientweaponsaroundthewalls。AtthefartherendfromthedoorwasthehighFrenchwindowofwhichwehadheard。Threesmallerwindowsontheright—handsidefilledtheapartmentwithcoldwintersunshine。Ontheleftwasalarge，deepfireplace，withamassive，over—hangingoakmantelpiece。Besidethefireplacewasaheavyoakenchairwitharmsandcross—barsatthebottom。
　　Inandoutthroughtheopenwoodworkwaswovenacrimsoncord，whichwassecuredateachsidetothecrosspiecebelow。
　　Inreleasingtheladythecordhadbeenslippedoffher，buttheknotswithwhichithadbeensecuredstillremained。
　　Thesedetailsonlystruckourattentionafterwards，forourthoughtswereentirelyabsorbedbytheterribleobjectwhichlayuponthetiger—skinhearthruginfrontofthefire。
　　Itwasthebodyofatall，well—mademan，aboutfortyyearsofage。Helayuponhisback，hisfaceupturned，withhiswhiteteethgrinningthroughhisshortblackbeard。Histwoclenchedhandswereraisedabovehishead，andaheavyblackthornsticklayacrossthem。Hisdark，handsome，aquilinefeatureswereconvulsedintoaspasmofvindictivehatred，whichhadsethisdeadfaceinaterriblyfiendishexpression。Hehadevidentlybeeninhisbedwhenthealarmhadbrokenout，forheworeafoppishembroiderednight—shirt，andhisbarefeetprojectedfromhistrousers。Hisheadwashorriblyinjured，andthewholeroomborewitnesstothesavageferocityoftheblowwhichhadstruckhimdown。Besidehimlaytheheavypoker，bentintoacurvebytheconcussion。Holmesexaminedbothitandtheindescribablewreckwhichithadwrought。
　　"Hemustbeapowerfulman，thiselderRandall，"heremarked。
　　"Yes，"saidHopkins。"Ihavesomerecordofthefellow，andheisaroughcustomer。"
　　"Youshouldhavenodifficultyingettinghim。"
　　"Nottheslightest。Wehavebeenonthelook—outforhim，andtherewassomeideathathehadgotawaytoAmerica。
　　NowthatweknowthegangarehereIdon’tseehowtheycanescape。Wehavethenewsateveryseaportalready，andarewardwillbeofferedbeforeevening。Whatbeatsmeishowtheycouldhavedonesomadathing，knowingthattheladycoulddescribethem，andthatwecouldnotfailtorecognisethedescription。"
　　"Exactly。OnewouldhaveexpectedthattheywouldhavesilencedLadyBrackenstallaswell。"
　　"Theymaynothaverealized，"Isuggested，"thatshehadrecoveredfromherfaint。"
　　"Thatislikelyenough。Ifsheseemedtobesenselesstheywouldnottakeherlife。Whataboutthispoorfellow，Hopkins？
　　Iseemtohaveheardsomequeerstoriesabouthim。"
　　"Hewasagood—heartedmanwhenhewassober，butaperfectfiendwhenhewasdrunk，orratherwhenhewashalfdrunk，forheseldomreallywentthewholeway。Thedevilseemedtobeinhimatsuchtimes，andhewascapableofanything。
　　FromwhatIhear，inspiteofallhiswealthandhistitle，heverynearlycameourwayonceortwice。Therewasascandalabouthisdrenchingadogwithpetroleumandsettingitonfire——herladyship’sdog，tomakethematterworse——
　　andthatwasonlyhushedupwithdifficulty。Thenhethrewadecanteratthatmaid，TheresaWright；therewastroubleaboutthat。Onthewhole，andbetweenourselves，itwillbeabrighterhousewithouthim。Whatareyoulookingatnow？"
　　Holmeswasdownonhiskneesexaminingwithgreatattentiontheknotsupontheredcordwithwhichtheladyhadbeensecured。
　　Thenhecarefullyscrutinizedthebrokenandfrayedendwhereithadsnappedoffwhentheburglarhaddraggeditdown。
　　"Whenthiswaspulleddownthebellinthekitchenmusthaverungloudly，"heremarked。
　　"Noonecouldhearit。Thekitchenstandsrightatthebackofthehouse。"
　　"Howdidtheburglarknownoonewouldhearit？Howdaredhepullatabell—ropeinthatrecklessfashion？"
　　"Exactly，Mr。Holmes，exactly。YouputtheveryquestionwhichIhaveaskedmyselfagainandagain。Therecanbenodoubtthatthisfellowmusthaveknownthehouseanditshabits。Hemusthaveperfectlyunderstoodthattheservantswouldallbeinbedatthatcomparativelyearlyhour，andthatnoonecouldpossiblyhearabellringinthekitchen。Thereforehemusthavebeenincloseleaguewithoneoftheservants。Surelythatisevident。
　　Butthereareeightservants，andallofgoodcharacter。"
　　"Otherthingsbeingequal，"saidHolmes，"onewouldsuspecttheoneatwhoseheadthemasterthrewadecanter。Andyetthatwouldinvolvetreacherytowardsthemistresstowhomthiswomanseemsdevoted。Well，well，thepointisaminorone，andwhenyouhaveRandallyouwillprobablyfindnodifficultyinsecuringhisaccomplice。Thelady’sstorycertainlyseemstobecorroborated，ifitneededcorroboration，byeverydetailwhichweseebeforeus。"HewalkedtotheFrenchwindowandthrewitopen。"Therearenosignshere，butthegroundisironhard，andonewouldnotexpectthem。Iseethatthesecandlesonthemantelpiecehavebeenlighted。"
　　"Yes；itwasbytheirlightandthatofthelady’sbedroomcandlethattheburglarssawtheirwayabout。"
　　"Andwhatdidtheytake？"
　　"Well，theydidnottakemuch——onlyhalf—a—dozenarticlesofplateoffthesideboard。LadyBrackenstallthinksthattheywerethemselvessodisturbedbythedeathofSirEustacethattheydidnotransackthehouseastheywouldotherwisehavedone。"
　　"Nodoubtthatistrue。Andyettheydranksomewine，Iunderstand。"
　　"Tosteadytheirownnerves。"
　　"Exactly。Thesethreeglassesuponthesideboardhavebeenuntouched，Isuppose？"
　　"Yes；andthebottlestandsastheyleftit。"
　　"Letuslookatit。Halloa！halloa！whatisthis？"
　　Thethreeglassesweregroupedtogether，allofthemtingedwithwine，andoneofthemcontainingsomedregsofbees—wing。
　　Thebottlestoodnearthem，two—thirdsfull，andbesideitlayalong，deeply—stainedcork。Itsappearanceandthedustuponthebottleshowedthatitwasnocommonvintagewhichthemurderershadenjoyed。
　　AchangehadcomeoverHolmes’smanner。Hehadlosthislistlessexpression，andagainIsawanalertlightofinterestinhiskeen，deep—seteyes。Heraisedthecorkandexamineditminutely。
　　"Howdidtheydrawit？"heasked。
　　Hopkinspointedtoahalf—openeddrawer。Initlaysometablelinenandalargecork—screw。
　　"DidLadyBrackenstallsaythatscrewwasused？"
　　"No；yourememberthatshewassenselessatthemomentwhenthebottlewasopened。"
　　"Quiteso。AsamatteroffactthatscrewwasNOTused。
　　Thisbottlewasopenedbyapocket—screw，probablycontainedinaknife，andnotmorethananinchandahalflong。Ifyouexaminethetopofthecorkyouwillobservethatthescrewwasdriveninthreetimesbeforethecorkwasextracted。Ithasneverbeentransfixed。Thislongscrewwouldhavetransfixeditanddrawnitwithasinglepull。Whenyoucatchthisfellowyouwillfindthathehasoneofthesemultiplexknivesinhispossession。"
　　"Excellent！"saidHopkins。
　　"Buttheseglassesdopuzzleme，Iconfess。LadyBrackenstallactuallySAWthethreemendrinking，didshenot？"
　　"Yes；shewasclearaboutthat。"
　　"Thenthereisanendofit。Whatmoreistobesaid？
　　Andyetyoumustadmitthatthethreeglassesareveryremarkable，Hopkins。What，youseenothingremarkable！
　　Well，well，letitpass。Perhapswhenamanhasspecialknowledgeandspecialpowerslikemyownitratherencourageshimtoseekacomplexexplanationwhenasimpleroneisathand。
　　Ofcourse，itmustbeamerechanceabouttheglasses。
　　Well，goodmorning，Hopkins。Idon’tseethatIcanbeofanyusetoyou，andyouappeartohaveyourcaseveryclear。
　　YouwillletmeknowwhenRandallisarrested，andanyfurtherdevelopmentswhichmayoccur。ItrustthatIshallsoonhavetocongratulateyouuponasuccessfulconclusion。Come，Watson，Ifancythatwemayemployourselvesmoreprofitablyathome。"
　　DuringourreturnjourneyIcouldseebyHolmes’sfacethathewasmuchpuzzledbysomethingwhichhehadobserved。
　　Everynowandthen，byaneffort，hewouldthrowofftheimpressionandtalkasifthematterwereclear，butthenhisdoubtswouldsettledownuponhimagain，andhisknittedbrowsandabstractedeyeswouldshowthathisthoughtshadgonebackoncemoretothegreatdining—roomoftheAbbeyGrangeinwhichthismidnighttragedyhadbeenenacted。Atlast，byasuddenimpulse，justasourtrainwascrawlingoutofasuburbanstation，hesprangontotheplatformandpulledmeoutafterhim。
　　"Excuseme，mydearfellow，"saidhe，aswewatchedtherearcarriagesofourtraindisappearingroundacurve；"Iamsorrytomakeyouthevictimofwhatmayseemamerewhim，butonmylife，Watson，IsimplyCAN’Tleavethatcaseinthiscondition。
　　EveryinstinctthatIpossesscriesoutagainstit。
　　It’swrong——it’sallwrong——I’llswearthatit’swrong。
　　Andyetthelady’sstorywascomplete，themaid’scorroborationwassufficient，thedetailwasfairlyexact。WhathaveItoputagainstthat？Threewine—glasses，thatisall。ButifIhadnottakenthingsforgranted，ifIhadexaminedeverythingwithcarewhichIwouldhaveshownhadweapproachedthecaseDENOVO
　　andhadnocut—and—driedstorytowarpmymind，wouldInotthenhavefoundsomethingmoredefinitetogoupon？OfcourseIshould。
　　Sitdownonthisbench，Watson，untilatrainforChislehurstarrives，andallowmetolaytheevidencebeforeyou，imploringyouinthefirstinstancetodismissfromyourmindtheideathatanythingwhichthemaidorhermistressmayhavesaidmustnecessarilybetrue。Thelady’scharmingpersonalitymustnotbepermittedtowarpourjudgment。
　　"Surelytherearedetailsinherstorywhich，ifwelookedatitincoldblood，wouldexciteoursuspicion。TheseburglarsmadeaconsiderablehaulatSydenhamafortnightago。Someaccountofthemandoftheirappearancewasinthepapers，andwouldnaturallyoccurtoanyonewhowishedtoinventastoryinwhichimaginaryrobbersshouldplayapart。Asamatteroffact，burglarswhohavedoneagoodstrokeofbusinessare，asarule，onlytoogladtoenjoytheproceedsinpeaceandquietwithoutembarkingonanotherperilousundertaking。Again，itisunusualforburglarstooperateatsoearlyanhour；itisunusualforburglarstostrikealadytopreventherscreaming，sinceonewouldimaginethatwasthesurewaytomakeherscream；itisunusualforthemtocommitmurderwhentheirnumbersaresufficienttooverpoweroneman；itisunusualforthemtobecontentwithalimitedplunderwhenthereismuchmorewithintheirreach；andfinallyIshouldsaythatitwasveryunusualforsuchmentoleaveabottlehalfempty。Howdoalltheseunusualsstrikeyou，Watson？"
　　"Theircumulativeeffectiscertainlyconsiderable，andyeteachofthemisquitepossibleinitself。Themostunusualthingofall，asitseemstome，isthattheladyshouldbetiedtothechair。"
　　"Well，Iamnotsoclearaboutthat，Watson；foritisevidentthattheymusteitherkillherorelsesecureherinsuchawaythatshecouldnotgiveimmediatenoticeoftheirescape。
　　ButatanyrateIhaveshown，haveInot，thatthereisacertainelementofimprobabilityaboutthelady’sstory？Andnowonthetopofthiscomestheincidentofthewine—glasses。"
　　"Whataboutthewine—glasses？"
　　"Canyouseetheminyourmind’seye？"
　　"Iseethemclearly。"
　　"Wearetoldthatthreemendrankfromthem。
　　Doesthatstrikeyouaslikely？"
　　"Whynot？Therewaswineineachglass。"
　　"Exactly；buttherewasbees—wingonlyinoneglass。Youmusthavenoticedthatfact。Whatdoesthatsuggesttoyourmind？"
　　"Thelastglassfilledwouldbemostlikelytocontainbees—wing。"
　　"Notatall。Thebottlewasfullofit，anditisinconceivablethatthefirsttwoglasseswereclearandthethirdheavilychargedwithit。Therearetwopossibleexplanations，andonlytwo。Oneisthatafterthesecondglasswasfilledthebottlewasviolentlyagitated，andsothethirdglassreceivedthebees—wing。Thatdoesnotappearprobable。No，no；IamsurethatIamright。"
　　"What，then，doyousuppose？"
　　"Thatonlytwoglasseswereused，andthatthedregsofbothwerepouredintoathirdglass，soastogivethefalseimpressionthatthreepeoplehadbeenhere。Inthatwayallthebees—wingwouldbeinthelastglass，woulditnot？Yes，Iamconvincedthatthisisso。ButifIhavehituponthetrueexplanationofthisonesmallphenomenon，theninaninstantthecaserisesfromthecommonplacetotheexceedinglyremarkable，foritcanonlymeanthatLadyBrackenstallandhermaidhavedeliberatelyliedtous，thatnotonewordoftheirstoryistobebelieved，thattheyhavesomeverystrongreasonforcoveringtherealcriminal，andthatwemustconstructourcaseforourselveswithoutanyhelpfromthem。Thatisthemissionwhichnowliesbeforeus，andhere，Watson，istheChislehursttrain。"
　　ThehouseholdoftheAbbeyGrangeweremuchsurprisedatourreturn，butSherlockHolmes，findingthatStanleyHopkinshadgoneofftoreporttohead—quarters，tookpossessionofthedining—room，lockedthedoorupontheinside，anddevotedhimselffortwohourstooneofthoseminuteandlaboriousinvestigationswhichformedthesolidbasisonwhichhisbrilliantedificesofdeductionwerereared。Seatedinacornerlikeaninterestedstudentwhoobservesthedemonstrationofhisprofessor，Ifollowedeverystepofthatremarkableresearch。
　　Thewindow，thecurtains，thecarpet，thechair，therope——eachinturnwasminutelyexaminedanddulypondered。Thebodyoftheunfortunatebaronethadbeenremoved，butallelseremainedaswehadseenitinthemorning。Then，tomyastonishment，Holmesclimbedupontothemassivemantelpiece。Farabovehisheadhungthefewinchesofredcordwhichwerestillattachedtothewire。Foralongtimehegazedupwardatit，andtheninanattempttogetnearertoitherestedhiskneeuponawoodenbracketonthewall。Thisbroughthishandwithinafewinchesofthebrokenendoftherope，butitwasnotthissomuchasthebracketitselfwhichseemedtoengagehisattention。
　　Finallyhesprangdownwithanejaculationofsatisfaction。
　　"It’sallright，Watson，"saidhe。"Wehavegotourcase——
　　oneofthemostremarkableinourcollection。But，dearme，howslow—wittedIhavebeen，andhownearlyIhavecommittedtheblunderofmylifetime！Now，Ithinkthatwithafewmissinglinksmychainisalmostcomplete。"
　　"Youhavegotyourmen？"
　　"Man，Watson，man。Onlyone，butaveryformidableperson。
　　Strongasalion——witnesstheblowthatbentthatpoker。
　　Sixfootthreeinheight，activeasasquirrel，dexterouswithhisfingers；finally，remarkablyquick—witted，forthiswholeingeniousstoryisofhisconcoction。Yes，Watson，wehavecomeuponthehandiworkofaveryremarkableindividual。
　　Andyetinthatbell—ropehehasgivenusacluewhichshouldnothaveleftusadoubt。"
　　"Wherewastheclue？"
　　"Well，ifyouweretopulldownabell—rope，Watson，wherewouldyouexpectittobreak？Surelyatthespotwhereitisattachedtothewire。Whyshoulditbreakthreeinchesfromthetopasthisonehasdone？"
　　"Becauseitisfrayedthere？"
　　"Exactly。Thisend，whichwecanexamine，isfrayed。Hewascunningenoughtodothatwithhisknife。Buttheotherendisnotfrayed。Youcouldnotobservethatfromhere，butifyouwereonthemantelpieceyouwouldseethatitiscutcleanoffwithoutanymarkoffrayingwhatever。Youcanreconstructwhatoccurred。Themanneededtherope。Hewouldnottearitdownforfearofgivingthealarmbyringingthebell。Whatdidhedo？
　　Hespranguponthemantelpiece，couldnotquitereachit，puthiskneeonthebracket——youwillseetheimpressioninthedust——andsogothisknifetobearuponthecord。Icouldnotreachtheplacebyatleastthreeinches，fromwhichIinferthatheisatleastthreeinchesabiggermanthanI。Lookatthatmarkupontheseatoftheoakenchair！Whatisit？"
　　"Blood。"
　　"Undoubtedlyitisblood。Thisaloneputsthelady’sstoryoutofcourt。Ifshewereseatedonthechairwhenthecrimewasdone，howcomesthatmark？No，no；shewasplacedinthechairAFTERthedeathofherhusband。I’llwagerthattheblackdressshowsacorrespondingmarktothis。WehavenotyetmetourWaterloo，Watson，butthisisourMarengo，foritbeginsindefeatandendsinvictory。IshouldlikenowtohaveafewwordswiththenurseTheresa。Wemustbewaryforawhile，ifwearetogettheinformationwhichwewant。"
　　Shewasaninterestingperson，thissternAustraliannurse。
　　Taciturn，suspicious，ungracious，ittooksometimebeforeHolmes’spleasantmannerandfrankacceptanceofallthatshesaidthawedherintoacorrespondingamiability。Shedidnotattempttoconcealherhatredforherlateemployer。
　　"Yes，sir，itistruethathethrewthedecanteratme。
　　Iheardhimcallmymistressaname，andItoldhimthathewouldnotdaretospeaksoifherbrotherhadbeenthere。
　　Thenitwasthathethrewitatme。Hemighthavethrownadozenifhehadbutleftmybonnybirdalone。Hewasforeverilltreatingher，andshetooproudtocomplain。Shewillnoteventellmeallthathehasdonetoher。Shenevertoldmeofthosemarksonherarmthatyousawthismorning，butIknowverywellthattheycomefromastabwithahat—pin。
　　Theslyfiend——HeavenforgivemethatIshouldspeakofhimso，nowthatheisdead，butafiendhewasifeveronewalkedtheearth。
　　Hewasallhoneywhenfirstwemethim，onlyeighteenmonthsago，andwebothfeelasifitwereeighteenyears。ShehadonlyjustarrivedinLondon。Yes，itwasherfirstvoyage——shehadneverbeenfromhomebefore。HewonherwithhistitleandhismoneyandhisfalseLondonways。Ifshemadeamistakeshehaspaidforit，ifeverawomandid。Whatmonthdidwemeethim？Well，Itellyouitwasjustafterwearrived。WearrivedinJune，anditwasJuly。TheyweremarriedinJanuaryoflastyear。
　　Yes，sheisdowninthemorning—roomagain，andIhavenodoubtshewillseeyou，butyoumustnotasktoomuchofher，forshehasgonethroughallthatfleshandbloodwillstand。"
　　LadyBrackenstallwasrecliningonthesamecouch，butlookedbrighterthanbefore。Themaidhadenteredwithus，andbeganoncemoretofomentthebruiseuponhermistress’sbrow。
　　"Ihope，"saidthelady，"thatyouhavenotcometocross—examinemeagain？"
　　"No，"Holmesanswered，inhisgentlestvoice，"Iwillnotcauseyouanyunnecessarytrouble，LadyBrackenstall，andmywholedesireistomakethingseasyforyou，forIamconvincedthatyouareamuch—triedwoman。IfyouwilltreatmeasafriendandtrustmeyoumayfindthatIwilljustifyyourtrust。"
　　"Whatdoyouwantmetodo？"
　　"Totellmethetruth。"
　　"Mr。Holmes！"