"Becauseinfiveminutesyouwillsaythatitisallsoabsurdlysimple。"
　　"IamsurethatIshallsaynothingofthekind。"
　　"Yousee，mydearWatson"——heproppedhistest—tubeintherackandbegantolecturewiththeairofaprofessoraddressinghisclass——"itisnotreallydifficulttoconstructaseriesofinferences，eachdependentuponitspredecessorandeachsimpleinitself。If，afterdoingso，onesimplyknocksoutallthecentralinferencesandpresentsone’saudiencewiththestarting—pointandtheconclusion，onemayproduceastartling，thoughpossiblyameretricious，effect。Now，itwasnotreallydifficult，byaninspectionofthegroovebetweenyourleftforefingerandthumb，tofeelsurethatyoudidNOTproposetoinvestyoursmallcapitalinthegoldfields。"
　　"Iseenoconnection。"
　　"Verylikelynot；butIcanquicklyshowyouacloseconnection。
　　Herearethemissinglinksoftheverysimplechain：1。Youhadchalkbetweenyourleftfingerandthumbwhenyoureturnedfromtheclublastnight。2。Youputchalktherewhenyouplaybilliardstosteadythecue。3。YouneverplaybilliardsexceptwithThurston。
　　4。YoutoldmefourweeksagothatThurstonhadanoptiononsomeSouthAfricanpropertywhichwouldexpireinamonth，andwhichhedesiredyoutosharewithhim。5。Yourcheque—bookislockedinmydrawer，andyouhavenotaskedforthekey。6。Youdonotproposetoinvestyourmoneyinthismanner。"
　　"Howabsurdlysimple！"Icried。
　　"Quiteso！"saidhe，alittlenettled。"Everyproblembecomesverychildishwhenonceitisexplainedtoyou。Hereisanunexplainedone。Seewhatyoucanmakeofthat，friendWatson。"
　　Hetossedasheetofpaperuponthetableandturnedoncemoretohischemicalanalysis。
　　Ilookedwithamazementattheabsurdhieroglyphicsuponthepaper。
　　"Why，Holmes，itisachild’sdrawing，"Icried。
　　"Oh，that’syouridea！"
　　"Whatelseshoulditbe？"
　　"ThatiswhatMr。HiltonCubitt，ofRidingThorpeManor，Norfolk，isveryanxioustoknow。Thislittleconundrumcamebythefirstpost，andhewastofollowbythenexttrain。There’saringatthebell，Watson。Ishouldnotbeverymuchsurprisedifthiswerehe。"
　　Aheavystepwashearduponthestairs，andaninstantlaterthereenteredatall，ruddy，clean—shavengentleman，whosecleareyesandfloridcheekstoldofalifeledfarfromthefogsofBakerStreet。Heseemedtobringawhiffofhisstrong，fresh，bracing，east—coastairwithhimasheentered。Havingshakenhandswitheachofus，hewasabouttositdownwhenhiseyeresteduponthepaperwiththecuriousmarkings，whichIhadjustexaminedandleftuponthetable。
　　"Well，Mr。Holmes，whatdoyoumakeofthese？"hecried。
　　"Theytoldmethatyouwerefondofqueermysteries，andIdon’tthinkyoucanfindaqueereronethanthat。IsentthepaperonaheadsothatyoumighthavetimetostudyitbeforeIcame。"
　　"Itiscertainlyratheracuriousproduction，"saidHolmes。
　　"Atfirstsightitwouldappeartobesomechildishprank。
　　Itconsistsofanumberofabsurdlittlefiguresdancingacrossthepaperuponwhichtheyaredrawn。Whyshouldyouattributeanyimportancetosogrotesqueanobject？"
　　"Inevershould，Mr。Holmes。Butmywifedoes。Itisfrighteninghertodeath。Shesaysnothing，butIcanseeterrorinhereyes。
　　That’swhyIwanttosiftthemattertothebottom。"
　　Holmesheldupthepapersothatthesunlightshonefulluponit。
　　Itwasapagetornfromanote—book。Themarkingsweredoneinpencil，andraninthisway：——
　　GRAPHIC
　　Holmesexamineditforsometime，andthen，foldingitcarefullyup，heplaceditinhispocket—book。
　　"Thispromisestobeamostinterestingandunusualcase，"saidhe。
　　"Yougavemeafewparticularsinyourletter，Mr。HiltonCubitt，butIshouldbeverymuchobligedifyouwouldkindlygooveritallagainforthebenefitofmyfriend，Dr。Watson。"
　　"I’mnotmuchofastory—teller，"saidourvisitor，nervouslyclaspingandunclaspinghisgreat，stronghands。"You’lljustaskmeanythingthatIdon’tmakeclear。I’llbeginatthetimeofmymarriagelastyear；butIwanttosayfirstofallthat，thoughI’mnotarichman，mypeoplehavebeenatRidlingThorpeforamatteroffivecenturies，andthereisnobetterknownfamilyintheCountyofNorfolk。LastyearIcameuptoLondonfortheJubilee，andIstoppedataboarding—houseinRussellSquare，becauseParker，thevicarofourparish，wasstayinginit。TherewasanAmericanyoungladythere——Patrickwasthename——ElsiePatrick。Insomewaywebecamefriends，untilbeforemymonthwasupIwasasmuchinloveasamancouldbe。
　　Wewerequietlymarriedataregistryoffice，andwereturnedtoNorfolkaweddedcouple。You’llthinkitverymad，Mr。Holmes，thatamanofagoodoldfamilyshouldmarryawifeinthisfashion，knowingnothingofherpastorofherpeople；butifyousawherandknewheritwouldhelpyoutounderstand。
　　"Shewasverystraightaboutit，wasElsie。Ican’tsaythatshedidnotgivemeeverychanceofgettingoutofitifIwishedtodoso。`Ihavehadsomeverydisagreeableassociationsinmylife，’saidshe；`Iwishtoforgetallaboutthem。Iwouldratherneveralludetothepast，foritisverypainfultome。Ifyoutakeme，Hilton，youwilltakeawomanwhohasnothingthatsheneedbepersonallyashamedof；butyouwillhavetobecontentwithmywordforit，andtoallowmetobesilentastoallthatpasseduptothetimewhenIbecameyours。
　　Iftheseconditionsaretoohard，thengobacktoNorfolkandleavemetothelonelylifeinwhichyoufoundme。’Itwasonlythedaybeforeourweddingthatshesaidthoseverywordstome。
　　ItoldherthatIwascontenttotakeheronherownterms，andIhavebeenasgoodasmyword。
　　"Well，wehavebeenmarriednowforayear，andveryhappywehavebeen。Butaboutamonthago，attheendofJune，Isawforthefirsttimesignsoftrouble。OnedaymywifereceivedaletterfromAmerica。IsawtheAmericanstamp。Sheturneddeadlywhite，readtheletter，andthrewitintothefire。
　　Shemadenoallusiontoitafterwards，andImadenone，forapromiseisapromise；butshehasneverknownaneasyhourfromthatmoment。Thereisalwaysalookoffearuponherface——
　　alookasifshewerewaitingandexpecting。Shewoulddobettertotrustme。ShewouldfindthatIwasherbestfriend。
　　ButuntilshespeaksIcansaynothing。Mindyou，sheisatruthfulwoman，Mr。Holmes，andwhatevertroubletheremayhavebeeninherpastlifeithasbeennofaultofhers。IamonlyasimpleNorfolksquire，butthereisnotamaninEnglandwhorankshisfamilyhonourmorehighlythanIdo。Sheknowsitwell，andsheknewitwellbeforeshemarriedme。Shewouldneverbringanystainuponit——ofthatIamsure。
　　"Well，nowIcometothequeerpartofmystory。Aboutaweekago——itwastheTuesdayoflastweek——Ifoundononeofthewindow—sillsanumberofabsurdlittledancingfigures，liketheseuponthepaper。Theywerescrawledwithchalk。Ithoughtthatitwasthestable—boywhohaddrawnthem，buttheladsworeheknewnothingaboutit。Anyhow，theyhadcomethereduringthenight。Ihadthemwashedout，andIonlymentionedthemattertomywifeafterwards。Tomysurpriseshetookitveryseriously，andbeggedmeifanymorecametoletherseethem。
　　Nonedidcomeforaweek，andthenyesterdaymorningIfoundthispaperlyingonthesun—dialinthegarden。IshowedittoElsie，anddownshedroppedinadeadfaint。Sincethenshehaslookedlikeawomaninadream，halfdazed，andwithterroralwayslurkinginhereyes。ItwasthenthatIwroteandsentthepapertoyou，Mr。Holmes。ItwasnotathingthatIcouldtaketothepolice，fortheywouldhavelaughedatme，butyouwilltellmewhattodo。Iamnotarichman；butifthereisanydangerthreateningmylittlewomanIwouldspendmylastcoppertoshieldher。"
　　Hewasafinecreature，thismanoftheoldEnglishsoil，simple，straight，andgentle，withhisgreat，earnestblueeyesandbroad，comelyface。Hisloveforhiswifeandhistrustinhershoneinhisfeatures。Holmeshadlistenedtohisstorywiththeutmostattention，andnowhesatforsometimeinsilentthought。
　　"Don’tyouthink，Mr。Cubitt，"saidhe，atlast，"thatyourbestplanwouldbetomakeadirectappealtoyourwife，andtoaskhertosharehersecretwithyou？"
　　HiltonCubittshookhismassivehead。
　　"Apromiseisapromise，Mr。Holmes。IfElsiewishedtotellmeshewould。Ifnot，itisnotformetoforceherconfidence。
　　ButIamjustifiedintakingmyownline——andIwill。"
　　"ThenIwillhelpyouwithallmyheart。Inthefirstplace，haveyouheardofanystrangersbeingseeninyourneighbourhood？"
　　"No。"
　　"Ipresumethatitisaveryquietplace。Anyfreshfacewouldcausecomment？"
　　"Intheimmediateneighbourhood，yes。Butwehaveseveralsmallwatering—placesnotveryfaraway。Andthefarmerstakeinlodgers。"
　　"Thesehieroglyphicshaveevidentlyameaning。Ifitisapurelyarbitraryoneitmaybeimpossibleforustosolveit。
　　If，ontheotherhand，itissystematic，Ihavenodoubtthatweshallgettothebottomofit。ButthisparticularsampleissoshortthatIcandonothing，andthefactswhichyouhavebroughtmearesoindefinitethatwehavenobasisforaninvestigation。IwouldsuggestthatyoureturntoNorfolk，thatyoukeepakeenlook—out，andthatyoutakeanexactcopyofanyfreshdancingmenwhichmayappear。Itisathousandpitiesthatwehavenotareproductionofthosewhichweredoneinchalkuponthewindow—sill。Makeadiscreetinquiryalsoastoanystrangersintheneighbourhood。Whenyouhavecollectedsomefreshevidencecometomeagain。ThatisthebestadvicewhichIcangiveyou，Mr。HiltonCubitt。IfthereareanypressingfreshdevelopmentsIshallbealwaysreadytorundownandseeyouinyourNorfolkhome。"
　　TheinterviewleftSherlockHolmesverythoughtful，andseveraltimesinthenextfewdaysIsawhimtakehisslipofpaperfromhisnote—bookandlooklongandearnestlyatthecuriousfiguresinscribeduponit。Hemadenoallusiontotheaffair，however，untiloneafternoonafortnightorsolater。Iwasgoingoutwhenhecalledmeback。
　　"Youhadbetterstayhere，Watson。"
　　"Why？"
　　"BecauseIhadawirefromHiltonCubittthismorning——yourememberHiltonCubitt，ofthedancingmen？HewastoreachLiverpoolStreetatone—twenty。Hemaybehereatanymoment。
　　Igatherfromhiswirethattherehavebeensomenewincidentsofimportance。"
　　Wehadnotlongtowait，forourNorfolksquirecamestraightfromthestationasfastasahansomcouldbringhim。Hewaslookingworriedanddepressed，withtiredeyesandalinedforehead。
　　"It’sgettingonmynerves，thisbusiness，Mr。Holmes，"saidhe，ashesank，likeaweariedman，intoanarm—chair。"It’sbadenoughtofeelthatyouaresurroundedbyunseen，unknownfolk，whohavesomekindofdesignuponyou；butwhen，inadditiontothat，youknowthatitisjustkillingyourwifebyinches，thenitbecomesasmuchasfleshandbloodcanendure。She’swearingawayunderit——justwearingawaybeforemyeyes。"
　　"Hasshesaidanythingyet？"
　　"No，Mr。Holmes，shehasnot。Andyettherehavebeentimeswhenthepoorgirlhaswantedtospeak，andyetcouldnotquitebringherselftotaketheplunge。Ihavetriedtohelpher；
　　butIdaresayIdiditclumsily，andscaredherofffromit。
　　Shehasspokenaboutmyoldfamily，andourreputationinthecounty，andourprideinourunsulliedhonour，andIalwaysfeltitwasleadingtothepoint；butsomehowitturnedoffbeforewegotthere。"
　　"Butyouhavefoundoutsomethingforyourself？"
　　"Agooddeal，Mr。Holmes。Ihaveseveralfreshdancingmenpicturesforyoutoexamine，and，whatismoreimportant，Ihaveseenthefellow。"
　　"What，themanwhodrawsthem？"
　　"Yes，Isawhimathiswork。ButIwilltellyoueverythinginorder。WhenIgotbackaftermyvisittoyou，theveryfirstthingIsawnextmorningwasafreshcropofdancingmen。
　　Theyhadbeendrawninchalkupontheblackwoodendoorofthetool—house，whichstandsbesidethelawninfullviewofthefrontwindows。Itookanexactcopy，andhereitis。"
　　Heunfoldedapaperandlaidituponthetable。Hereisacopyofthehieroglyphics：——
　　GRAPHIC
　　"Excellent！"saidHolmes。"Excellent！Praycontinue。"
　　"WhenIhadtakenthecopyIrubbedoutthemarks；
　　buttwomorningslaterafreshinscriptionhadappeared。
　　Ihaveacopyofithere"：——
　　GRAPHIC
　　Holmesrubbedhishandsandchuckledwithdelight。
　　"Ourmaterialisrapidlyaccumulating，"saidhe。
　　"Threedayslateramessagewasleftscrawleduponpaper，andplacedunderapebbleuponthesun—dial。Hereitis。
　　Thecharactersare，asyousee，exactlythesameasthelastone。
　　AfterthatIdeterminedtolieinwait；soIgotoutmyrevolverandIsatupinmystudy，whichoverlooksthelawnandgarden。
　　AbouttwointhemorningIwasseatedbythewindow，allbeingdarksaveforthemoonlightoutside，whenIheardstepsbehindme，andtherewasmywifeinherdressing—gown。Sheimploredmetocometobed。ItoldherfranklythatIwishedtoseewhoitwaswhoplayedsuchabsurdtricksuponus。Sheansweredthatitwassomesenselesspracticaljoke，andthatIshouldnottakeanynoticeofit。
　　"`Ifitreallyannoysyou，Hilton，wemightgoandtravel，youandI，andsoavoidthisnuisance。’
　　"`What，bedrivenoutofourownhousebyapracticaljoker？’
　　saidI。`Why，weshouldhavethewholecountylaughingatus。’
　　"`Well，cometobed，’saidshe，`andwecandiscussitinthemorning。’
　　"Suddenly，asshespoke，Isawherwhitefacegrowwhiteryetinthemoonlight，andherhandtighteneduponmyshoulder。
　　Somethingwasmovingintheshadowofthetool—house。Isawadark，creepingfigurewhichcrawledroundthecornerandsquattedinfrontofthedoor。SeizingmypistolIwasrushingout，whenmywifethrewherarmsroundmeandheldmewithconvulsivestrength。Itriedtothrowheroff，butsheclungtomemostdesperately。AtlastIgotclear，butbythetimeIhadopenedthedoorandreachedthehousethecreaturewasgone。
　　Hehadleftatraceofhispresence，however，forthereonthedoorwastheverysamearrangementofdancingmenwhichhadalreadytwiceappeared，andwhichIhavecopiedonthatpaper。
　　Therewasnoothersignofthefellowanywhere，thoughIranalloverthegrounds。Andyettheamazingthingisthathemusthavebeenthereallthetime，forwhenIexaminedthedooragaininthemorninghehadscrawledsomemoreofhispicturesunderthelinewhichIhadalreadyseen。"
　　"Haveyouthatfreshdrawing？"
　　"Yes；itisveryshort，butImadeacopyofit，andhereitis。"
　　Againheproducedapaper。Thenewdancewasinthisform：——
　　GRAPHIC
　　"Tellme，"saidHolmes——andIcouldseebyhiseyesthathewasmuchexcited——"wasthisamereadditiontothefirst，ordiditappeartobeentirelyseparate？"
　　"Itwasonadifferentpanelofthedoor。"
　　"Excellent！Thisisfarthemostimportantofallforourpurpose。Itfillsmewithhopes。Now，Mr。HiltonCubitt，pleasecontinueyourmostinterestingstatement。"
　　"Ihavenothingmoretosay，Mr。Holmes，exceptthatIwasangrywithmywifethatnightforhavingheldmebackwhenImighthavecaughttheskulkingrascal。ShesaidthatshefearedthatImightcometoharm。ForaninstantithadcrossedmymindthatperhapswhatshereallyfearedwasthatHEmightcometoharm，forIcouldnotdoubtthatsheknewwhothismanwasandwhathemeantbythesestrangesignals。Butthereisatoneinmywife’svoice，Mr。Holmes，andalookinhereyeswhichforbiddoubt，andIamsurethatitwasindeedmyownsafetythatwasinhermind。There’sthewholecase，andnowIwantyouradviceastowhatIoughttodo。Myowninclinationistoputhalf—a—dozenofmyfarmladsintheshrubbery，andwhenthisfellowcomesagaintogivehimsuchahidingthathewillleaveusinpeaceforthefuture。"
　　"Ifearitistoodeepacaseforsuchsimpleremedies，"
　　saidHolmes。"HowlongcanyoustayinLondon？"
　　"Imustgobackto—day。Iwouldnotleavemywifealoneallnightforanything。Sheisverynervousandbeggedmetocomeback。"
　　"Idaresayyouareright。ButifyoucouldhavestoppedI
　　mightpossiblyhavebeenabletoreturnwithyouinadayortwo。Meanwhileyouwillleavemethesepapers，andIthinkthatitisverylikelythatIshallbeabletopayyouavisitshortlyandtothrowsomelightuponyourcase。"
　　SherlockHolmespreservedhiscalmprofessionalmanneruntilourvisitorhadleftus，althoughitwaseasyforme，whoknewhimsowell，toseethathewasprofoundlyexcited。ThemomentthatHiltonCubitt’sbroadbackhaddisappearedthroughthedoormycomraderushedtothetable，laidoutalltheslipsofpapercontainingdancingmeninfrontofhim，andthrewhimselfintoanintricateandelaboratecalculation。FortwohoursIwatchedhimashecoveredsheetaftersheetofpaperwithfiguresandletters，socompletelyabsorbedinhistaskthathehadevidentlyforgottenmypresence。Sometimeshewasmakingprogressandwhistledandsangathiswork；sometimeshewaspuzzled，andwouldsitforlongspellswithafurrowedbrowandavacanteye。Finallyhesprangfromhischairwithacryofsatisfaction，andwalkedupanddowntheroomrubbinghishandstogether。Thenhewrotealongtelegramuponacableform。"IfmyanswertothisisasIhope，youwillhaveaveryprettycasetoaddtoyourcollection，Watson，"saidhe。"IexpectthatweshallbeabletogodowntoNorfolkto—morrow，andtotakeourfriendsomeverydefinitenewsastothesecretofhisannoyance。"
　　IconfessthatIwasfilledwithcuriosity，butIwasawarethatHolmeslikedtomakehisdisclosuresathisowntimeandinhisownway；soIwaiteduntilitshouldsuithimtotakemeintohisconfidence。
　　Buttherewasadelayinthatansweringtelegram，andtwodaysofimpatiencefollowed，duringwhichHolmesprickeduphisearsateveryringofthebell。OntheeveningofthesecondtherecamealetterfromHiltonCubitt。Allwasquietwithhim，savethatalonginscriptionhadappearedthatmorninguponthepedestalofthesun—dial。Heinclosedacopyofit，whichisherereproduced：——
　　GRAPHIC
　　Holmesbentoverthisgrotesquefriezeforsomeminutes，andthensuddenlysprangtohisfeetwithanexclamationofsurpriseanddismay。Hisfacewashaggardwithanxiety。
　　"Wehaveletthisaffairgofarenough，"saidhe。
　　"IsthereatraintoNorthWalshamto—night？"
　　Iturnedupthetime—table。Thelasthadjustgone。
　　"Thenweshallbreakfastearlyandtaketheveryfirstinthemorning，"saidHolmes。"Ourpresenceismosturgentlyneeded。
　　Ah！hereisourexpectedcablegram。Onemoment，Mrs。Hudson；
　　theremaybeananswer。No，thatisquiteasIexpected。
　　ThismessagemakesitevenmoreessentialthatweshouldnotloseanhourinlettingHiltonCubittknowhowmattersstand，foritisasingularandadangerouswebinwhichoursimpleNorfolksquireisentangled。"
　　So，indeed，itproved，andasIcometothedarkconclusionofastorywhichhadseemedtometobeonlychildishandbizarreIexperienceonceagainthedismayandhorrorwithwhichIwasfilled。WouldthatIhadsomebrighterendingtocommunicatetomyreaders，butthesearethechroniclesoffact，andImustfollowtotheirdarkcrisisthestrangechainofeventswhichforsomedaysmadeRidlingThorpeManorahouseholdwordthroughthelengthandbreadthofEngland。
　　WehadhardlyalightedatNorthWalsham，andmentionedthenameofourdestination，whenthestation—masterhurriedtowardsus。
　　"IsupposethatyouarethedetectivesfromLondon？"saidhe。
　　AlookofannoyancepassedoverHolmes’sface。
　　"Whatmakesyouthinksuchathing？"
　　"BecauseInspectorMartinfromNorwichhasjustpassedthrough。
　　Butmaybeyouarethesurgeons。She’snotdead——orwasn’tbylastaccounts。Youmaybeintimetosaveheryet——thoughitbeforthegallows。"
　　Holmes’sbrowwasdarkwithanxiety。
　　"WearegoingtoRidlingThorpeManor，"saidhe，"butwehaveheardnothingofwhathaspassedthere。"
　　"It’saterriblebusiness，"saidthestation—master。"Theyareshot，bothMr。HiltonCubittandhiswife。Sheshothimandthenherself——sotheservantssay。He’sdeadandherlifeisdespairedof。Dear，dear，oneoftheoldestfamiliesintheCountyofNorfolk，andoneofthemosthonoured。"
　　WithoutawordHolmeshurriedtoacarriage，andduringthelongsevenmiles’driveheneveropenedhismouth。SeldomhaveI
　　seenhimsoutterlydespondent。Hehadbeenuneasyduringallourjourneyfromtown，andIhadobservedthathehadturnedoverthemorningpaperswithanxiousattention；butnowthissuddenrealizationofhisworstfearslefthiminablankmelancholy。Heleanedbackinhisseat，lostingloomyspeculation。Yettherewasmucharoundtointerestus，forwewerepassingthroughassingularacountry—sideasanyinEngland，whereafewscatteredcottagesrepresentedthepopulationofto—day，whileoneveryhandenormoussquare—toweredchurchesbristledupfromtheflat，greenlandscapeandtoldofthegloryandprosperityofoldEastAnglia。AtlastthevioletrimoftheGermanOceanappearedoverthegreenedgeoftheNorfolkcoast，andthedriverpointedwithhiswhiptotwooldbrickandtimbergableswhichprojectedfromagroveoftrees。"That’sRidlingThorpeManor，"saidhe。
　　AswedroveuptotheporticoedfrontdoorIobservedinfrontofit，besidethetennislawn，theblacktool—houseandthepedestalledsun—dialwithwhichwehadsuchstrangeassociations。
　　Adapperlittleman，withaquick，alertmannerandawaxedmoustache，hadjustdescendedfromahighdog—cart。
　　HeintroducedhimselfasInspectorMartin，oftheNorfolkConstabulary，andhewasconsiderablyastonishedwhenheheardthenameofmycompanion。
　　"Why，Mr。Holmes，thecrimewasonlycommittedatthreethismorning。HowcouldyouhearofitinLondonandgettothespotassoonasI？"
　　"Ianticipatedit。Icameinthehopeofpreventingit。"
　　"Thenyoumusthaveimportantevidenceofwhichweareignorant，fortheyweresaidtobeamostunitedcouple。"
　　"Ihaveonlytheevidenceofthedancingmen，"saidHolmes。
　　"Iwillexplainthemattertoyoulater。Meanwhile，sinceitistoolatetopreventthistragedy，IamveryanxiousthatI
　　shouldusetheknowledgewhichIpossessinordertoensurethatjusticebedone。Willyouassociatemeinyourinvestigation，orwillyoupreferthatIshouldactindependently？"
　　"Ishouldbeproudtofeelthatwewereactingtogether，Mr。Holmes，"saidtheinspector，earnestly。
　　"InthatcaseIshouldbegladtoheartheevidenceandtoexaminethepremiseswithoutaninstantofunnecessarydelay。"
　　InspectorMartinhadthegoodsensetoallowmyfriendtodothingsinhisownfashion，andcontentedhimselfwithcarefullynotingtheresults。Thelocalsurgeon，anold，white—hairedman，hadjustcomedownfromMrs。HiltonCubitt’sroom，andhereportedthatherinjurieswereserious，butnotnecessarilyfatal。Thebullethadpassedthroughthefrontofherbrain，anditwouldprobablybesometimebeforeshecouldregainconsciousness。Onthequestionofwhethershehadbeenshotorhadshotherselfhewouldnotventuretoexpressanydecidedopinion。Certainlythebullethadbeendischargedatveryclosequarters。Therewasonlytheonepistolfoundintheroom，twobarrelsofwhichhadbeenemptied。Mr。HiltonCubitthadbeenshotthroughtheheart。Itwasequallyconceivablethathehadshotherandthenhimself，orthatshehadbeenthecriminal，fortherevolverlayuponthefloormidwaybetweenthem。
　　"Hashebeenmoved？"askedHolmes。
　　"Wehavemovednothingexceptthelady。Wecouldnotleaveherlyingwoundeduponthefloor。"