"Howlonghaveyoubeenhere，doctor？"
　　"Sincefouro’clock。"
　　"Anyoneelse？"
　　"Yes，theconstablehere。"
　　"Andyouhavetouchednothing？"
　　"Nothing。"
　　"Youhaveactedwithgreatdiscretion。Whosentforyou？"
　　"Thehousemaid，Saunders。"
　　"Wasitshewhogavethealarm？"
　　"SheandMrs。King，thecook。"
　　"Wherearetheynow？"
　　"Inthekitchen，Ibelieve。"
　　"ThenIthinkwehadbetterheartheirstoryatonce。"
　　Theoldhall，oak—panelledandhigh—windowed，hadbeenturnedintoacourtofinvestigation。Holmessatinagreat，old—fashionedchair，hisinexorableeyesgleamingoutofhishaggardface。Icouldreadinthemasetpurposetodevotehislifetothisquestuntiltheclientwhomhehadfailedtosaveshouldatlastbeavenged。ThetrimInspectorMartin，theold，grey—headedcountrydoctor，myself，andastolidvillagepolicemanmadeuptherestofthatstrangecompany。
　　Thetwowomentoldtheirstoryclearlyenough。Theyhadbeenarousedfromtheirsleepbythesoundofanexplosion，whichhadbeenfollowedaminutelaterbyasecondone。Theysleptinadjoiningrooms，andMrs。KinghadrushedintoSaunders。
　　Togethertheyhaddescendedthestairs。Thedoorofthestudywasopenandacandlewasburninguponthetable。Theirmasterlayuponhisfaceinthecentreoftheroom。Hewasquitedead。
　　Nearthewindowhiswifewascrouching，herheadleaningagainstthewall。Shewashorriblywounded，andthesideofherfacewasredwithblood。Shebreathedheavily，butwasincapableofsayinganything。Thepassage，aswellastheroom，wasfullofsmokeandthesmellofpowder。Thewindowwascertainlyshutandfastenedupontheinside。Bothwomenwerepositiveuponthepoint。Theyhadatoncesentforthedoctorandfortheconstable。Then，withtheaidofthegroomandthestable—boy，theyhadconveyedtheirinjuredmistresstoherroom。Bothsheandherhusbandhadoccupiedthebed。Shewascladinherdress——heinhisdressing—gown，overhisnightclothes。Nothinghadbeenmovedinthestudy。Sofarastheyknewtherehadneverbeenanyquarrelbetweenhusbandandwife。Theyhadalwayslookeduponthemasaveryunitedcouple。
　　Thesewerethemainpointsoftheservants’evidence。InanswertoInspectorMartintheywereclearthateverydoorwasfastenedupontheinside，andthatnoonecouldhaveescapedfromthehouse。InanswertoHolmestheybothrememberedthattheywereconsciousofthesmellofpowderfromthemomentthattheyranoutoftheirroomsuponthetopfloor。"Icommendthatfactverycarefullytoyourattention，"saidHolmestohisprofessionalcolleague。"AndnowIthinkthatweareinapositiontoundertakeathoroughexaminationoftheroom。"
　　Thestudyprovedtobeasmallchamber，linedonthreesideswithbooks，andwithawriting—tablefacinganordinarywindow，whichlookedoutuponthegarden。Ourfirstattentionwasgiventothebodyoftheunfortunatesquire，whosehugeframelaystretchedacrosstheroom。Hisdisordereddressshowedthathehadbeenhastilyarousedfromsleep。Thebullethadbeenfiredathimfromthefront，andhadremainedinhisbodyafterpenetratingtheheart。Hisdeathhadcertainlybeeninstantaneousandpainless。Therewasnopowder—markingeitheruponhisdressing—gownoronhishands。Accordingtothecountrysurgeontheladyhadstainsuponherface，butnoneuponherhand。
　　"Theabsenceofthelattermeansnothing，thoughitspresencemaymeaneverything，"saidHolmes。"Unlessthepowderfromabadly—fittingcartridgehappenstospurtbackwards，onemayfiremanyshotswithoutleavingasign。IwouldsuggestthatMr。Cubitt’sbodymaynowberemoved。Isuppose，doctor，youhavenotrecoveredthebulletwhichwoundedthelady？"
　　"Aseriousoperationwillbenecessarybeforethatcanbedone。
　　Buttherearestillfourcartridgesintherevolver。Twohavebeenfiredandtwowoundsinflicted，sothateachbulletcanbeaccountedfor。"
　　"Soitwouldseem，"saidHolmes。"Perhapsyoucanaccountalsoforthebulletwhichhassoobviouslystrucktheedgeofthewindow？"
　　Hehadturnedsuddenly，andhislong，thinfingerwaspointingtoaholewhichhadbeendrilledrightthroughthelowerwindow—sashaboutaninchabovethebottom。
　　"ByGeorge！"criedtheinspector。"Howeverdidyouseethat？"
　　"BecauseIlookedforit。"
　　"Wonderful！"saidthecountrydoctor。"Youarecertainlyright，sir。Thenathirdshothasbeenfired，andthereforeathirdpersonmusthavebeenpresent。Butwhocouldthathavebeenandhowcouldhehavegotaway？"
　　"Thatistheproblemwhichwearenowabouttosolve，"saidSherlockHolmes。"Youremember，InspectorMartin，whentheservantssaidthatonleavingtheirroomtheywereatonceconsciousofasmellofpowderIremarkedthatthepointwasanextremelyimportantone？"
　　"Yes，sir；butIconfessIdidnotquitefollowyou。"
　　"Itsuggestedthatatthetimeofthefiringthewindowaswellasthedooroftheroomhadbeenopen。Otherwisethefumesofpowdercouldnothavebeenblownsorapidlythroughthehouse。
　　Adraughtintheroomwasnecessaryforthat。Bothdoorandwindowwereonlyopenforaveryshorttime，however。"
　　"Howdoyouprovethat？"
　　"Becausethecandlehasnotguttered。"
　　"Capital！"criedtheinspector。"Capital！"
　　"FeelingsurethatthewindowhadbeenopenatthetimeofthetragedyIconceivedthattheremighthavebeenathirdpersonintheaffair，whostoodoutsidethisopeningandfiredthroughit。
　　Anyshotdirectedatthispersonmighthitthesash。Ilooked，andthere，sureenough，wasthebulletmark！"
　　"Buthowcamethewindowtobeshutandfastened？"
　　"Thewoman’sfirstinstinctwouldbetoshutandfastenthewindow。
　　But，halloa！whatisthis？"
　　Itwasalady’shand—bagwhichstooduponthestudytable——
　　atrimlittlehand—bagofcrocodile—skinandsilver。Holmesopeneditandturnedthecontentsout。Thereweretwentyfifty—poundnotesoftheBankofEngland，heldtogetherbyanindia—rubberband——nothingelse。
　　"Thismustbepreserved，foritwillfigureinthetrial，"saidHolmes，ashehandedthebagwithitscontentstotheinspector。
　　"Itisnownecessarythatweshouldtrytothrowsomelightuponthisthirdbullet，whichhasclearly，fromthesplinteringofthewood，beenfiredfrominsidetheroom。IshouldliketoseeMrs。King，thecook，again。Yousaid，Mrs。King，thatyouwereawakenedbyaLOUDexplosion。Whenyousaidthat，didyoumeanthatitseemedtoyoutobelouderthanthesecondone？"
　　"Well，sir，itwakenedmefrommysleep，andsoitishardtojudge。
　　Butitdidseemveryloud。"
　　"Youdon’tthinkthatitmighthavebeentwoshotsfiredalmostatthesameinstant？"
　　"IamsureIcouldn’tsay，sir。"
　　"Ibelievethatitwasundoubtedlyso。Iratherthink，InspectorMartin，thatwehavenowexhaustedallthatthisroomcanteachus。Ifyouwillkindlysteproundwithme，weshallseewhatfreshevidencethegardenhastooffer。"
　　Aflower—bedextendeduptothestudywindow，andweallbrokeintoanexclamationasweapproachedit。Theflowersweretrampleddown，andthesoftsoilwasimprintedalloverwithfootmarks。Large，masculinefeettheywere，withpeculiarlylong，sharptoes。Holmeshuntedaboutamongthegrassandleaveslikearetrieverafterawoundedbird。Then，withacryofsatisfaction，hebentforwardandpickedupalittlebrazencylinder。
　　"Ithoughtso，"saidhe；"therevolverhadanejector，andhereisthethirdcartridge。Ireallythink，InspectorMartin，thatourcaseisalmostcomplete。"
　　Thecountryinspector’sfacehadshownhisintenseamazementattherapidandmasterfulprogressofHolmes’sinvestigation。
　　Atfirsthehadshownsomedispositiontoasserthisownposition；
　　butnowhewasovercomewithadmirationandreadytofollowwithoutquestionwhereverHolmesled。
　　"Whomdoyoususpect？"heasked。
　　"I’llgointothatlater。ThereareseveralpointsinthisproblemwhichIhavenotbeenabletoexplaintoyouyet。
　　NowthatIhavegotsofarIhadbestproceedonmyownlines，andthenclearthewholematteruponceandforall。"
　　"Justasyouwish，Mr。Holmes，solongaswegetourman。"
　　"Ihavenodesiretomakemysteries，butitisimpossibleatthemomentofactiontoenterintolongandcomplexexplanations。
　　Ihavethethreadsofthisaffairallinmyhand。Evenifthisladyshouldneverrecoverconsciousnesswecanstillreconstructtheeventsoflastnightandensurethatjusticebedone。
　　FirstofallIwishtoknowwhetherthereisanyinninthisneighbourhoodknownas`Elrige’s’？"
　　Theservantswerecross—questioned，butnoneofthemhadheardofsuchaplace。Thestable—boythrewalightuponthematterbyrememberingthatafarmerofthatnamelivedsomemilesoffinthedirectionofEastRuston。
　　"Isitalonelyfarm？"
　　"Verylonely，sir。"
　　"Perhapstheyhavenotheardyetofallthathappenedhereduringthenight？"
　　"Maybenot，sir。"
　　Holmesthoughtforalittleandthenacurioussmileplayedoverhisface。
　　"Saddleahorse，mylad，"saidhe。"IshallwishyoutotakeanotetoElrige’sFarm。"
　　Hetookfromhispocketthevariousslipsofthedancingmen。
　　Withtheseinfrontofhimheworkedforsometimeatthestudy—table。Finallyhehandedanotetotheboy，withdirectionstoputitintothehandsofthepersontowhomitwasaddressed，andespeciallytoanswernoquestionsofanysortwhichmightbeputtohim。Isawtheoutsideofthenote，addressedinstraggling，irregularcharacters，veryunlikeHolmes’susualprecisehand。ItwasconsignedtoMr。AbeSlaney，Elrige’sFarm，EastRuston，Norfolk。
　　"Ithink，inspector，"Holmesremarked，"thatyouwoulddowelltotelegraphforanescort，as，ifmycalculationsprovetobecorrect，youmayhaveaparticularlydangerousprisonertoconveytothecountygaol。Theboywhotakesthisnotecouldnodoubtforwardyourtelegram。Ifthereisanafternoontraintotown，Watson，Ithinkweshoulddowelltotakeit，asIhaveachemicalanalysisofsomeinteresttofinish，andthisinvestigationdrawsrapidlytoaclose。"
　　Whentheyouthhadbeendispatchedwiththenote，SherlockHolmesgavehisinstructionstotheservants。IfanyvisitorweretocallaskingforMrs。HiltonCubittnoinformationshouldbegivenastohercondition，buthewastobeshownatonceintothedrawing—room。Heimpressedthesepointsuponthemwiththeutmostearnestness。Finallyheledthewayintothedrawing—roomwiththeremarkthatthebusinesswasnowoutofourhands，andthatwemustwhileawaythetimeasbestwemightuntilwecouldseewhatwasinstoreforus。Thedoctorhaddepartedtohispatients，andonlytheinspectorandmyselfremained。
　　"IthinkthatIcanhelpyoutopassanhourinaninterestingandprofitablemanner，"saidHolmes，drawinghischairuptothetableandspreadingoutinfrontofhimthevariouspapersuponwhichwererecordedtheanticsofthedancingmen。"Astoyou，friendWatson，Ioweyoueveryatonementforhavingallowedyournaturalcuriositytoremainsolongunsatisfied。Toyou，inspector，thewholeincidentmayappealasaremarkableprofessionalstudy。ImusttellyoufirstofalltheinterestingcircumstancesconnectedwiththepreviousconsultationswhichMr。HiltonCubitthashadwithmeinBakerStreet。"Hethenshortlyrecapitulatedthefactswhichhavealreadybeenrecorded。"Ihavehereinfrontofmethesesingularproductions，atwhichonemightsmilehadtheynotprovedthemselvestobethefore—runnersofsoterribleatragedy。Iamfairlyfamiliarwithallformsofsecretwritings，andammyselftheauthorofatriflingmonographuponthesubject，inwhichIanalyzeonehundredandsixtyseparateciphers；butIconfessthatthisisentirelynewtome。
　　Theobjectofthosewhoinventedthesystemhasapparentlybeentoconcealthatthesecharactersconveyamessage，andtogivetheideathattheyarethemererandomsketchesofchildren。
　　"Havingoncerecognised，however，thatthesymbolsstoodforletters，andhavingappliedtheruleswhichguideusinallformsofsecretwritings，thesolutionwaseasyenough。
　　ThefirstmessagesubmittedtomewassoshortthatitwasimpossibleformetodomorethantosaywithsomeconfidencethatthesymbolXXXstoodforE。Asyouareaware，EisthemostcommonletterintheEnglishalphabet，anditpredominatestosomarkedanextentthateveninashortsentenceonewouldexpecttofinditmostoften。Outoffifteensymbolsinthefirstmessagefourwerethesame，soitwasreasonabletosetthisdownasE。Itistruethatinsomecasesthefigurewasbearingaflagandinsomecasesnot，butitwasprobablefromthewayinwhichtheflagsweredistributedthattheywereusedtobreakthesentenceupintowords。Iacceptedthisasahypothesis，andnotedthatEwasrepresentedbyXXX。
　　"Butnowcametherealdifficultyoftheinquiry。TheorderoftheEnglishlettersafterEisbynomeanswellmarked，andanypreponderancewhichmaybeshowninanaverageofaprintedsheetmaybereversedinasingleshortsentence。Speakingroughly，T，A，O，I，N，S，H，R，D，andLarethenumericalorderinwhichlettersoccur；butT，A，O，andIareverynearlyabreastofeachother，anditwouldbeanendlesstasktotryeachcombinationuntilameaningwasarrivedat。I，therefore，waitedforfreshmaterial。InmysecondinterviewwithMr。
　　HiltonCubitthewasabletogivemetwoothershortsentencesandonemessage，whichappeared——sincetherewasnoflag——
　　tobeasingleword。Herearethesymbols。Now，inthesinglewordIhavealreadygotthetwoE’scomingsecondandfourthinawordoffiveletters。Itmightbe`sever，’or`lever，’or`never。’Therecanbenoquestionthatthelatterasareplytoanappealisfarthemostprobable，andthecircumstancespointedtoitsbeingareplywrittenbythelady。Acceptingitascorrect，wearenowabletosaythatthesymbolsXXXstandrespectivelyforN，V，andR。
　　"EvennowIwasinconsiderabledifficulty，butahappythoughtputmeinpossessionofseveralotherletters。Itoccurredtomethatiftheseappealscame，asIexpected，fromsomeonewhohadbeenintimatewiththeladyinherearlylife，acombinationwhichcontainedtwoE’swiththreelettersbetweenmightverywellstandforthename`ELSIE。’OnexaminationIfoundthatsuchacombinationformedtheterminationofthemessagewhichwasthreetimesrepeated。Itwascertainlysomeappealto`Elsie。’
　　InthiswayIhadgotmyL，S，andI。Butwhatappealcoulditbe？
　　Therewereonlyfourlettersinthewordwhichpreceded`Elsie，’
　　anditendedinE。Surelythewordmustbe`COME。’ItriedallotherfourlettersendinginE，butcouldfindnonetofitthecase。
　　SonowIwasinpossessionofC，O，andM，andIwasinapositiontoattackthefirstmessageoncemore，dividingitintowordsandputtingdotsforeachsymbolwhichwasstillunknown。
　　Sotreateditworkedoutinthisfashion：——。M。ERE……ESL。NE。
　　"NowthefirstletterCANonlybeA，whichisamostusefuldiscovery，sinceitoccursnofewerthanthreetimesinthisshortsentence，andtheHisalsoapparentinthesecondword。
　　Nowitbecomes：——
　　AMHEREA。ESLANE。
　　Or，fillingintheobviousvacanciesinthename：——
　　AMHEREABESLANEY。
　　IhadsomanylettersnowthatIcouldproceedwithconsiderableconfidencetothesecondmessage，whichworkedoutinthisfashion：——
　　A。ELRI。ES。
　　HereIcouldonlymakesensebyputtingTandGforthemissingletters，andsupposingthatthenamewasthatofsomehouseorinnatwhichthewriterwasstaying。"
　　InspectorMartinandIhadlistenedwiththeutmostinteresttothefullandclearaccountofhowmyfriendhadproducedresultswhichhadledtosocompleteacommandoverourdifficulties。
　　"Whatdidyoudothen，sir？"askedtheinspector。
　　"IhadeveryreasontosupposethatthisAbeSlaneywasanAmerican，sinceAbeisanAmericancontraction，andsincealetterfromAmericahadbeenthestarting—pointofallthetrouble。Ihadalsoeverycausetothinkthattherewassomecriminalsecretinthematter。Thelady’sallusionstoherpastandherrefusaltotakeherhusbandintoherconfidencebothpointedinthatdirection。Ithereforecabledtomyfriend，WilsonHargreave，oftheNewYorkPoliceBureau，whohasmorethanoncemadeuseofmyknowledgeofLondoncrime。IaskedhimwhetherthenameofAbeSlaneywasknowntohim。Hereishisreply：`ThemostdangerouscrookinChicago。’OntheveryeveninguponwhichIhadhisanswerHiltonCubittsentmethelastmessagefromSlaney。Workingwithknownlettersittookthisform：——
　　ELSIE。RE。ARETOMEETTHYGO。
　　TheadditionofaPandaDcompletedamessagewhichshowedmethattherascalwasproceedingfrompersuasiontothreats，andmyknowledgeofthecrooksofChicagopreparedmetofindthathemightveryrapidlyputhiswordsintoaction。IatoncecametoNorfolkwithmyfriendandcolleague，Dr。Watson，but，unhappily，onlyintimetofindthattheworsthadalreadyoccurred。"
　　"Itisaprivilegetobeassociatedwithyouinthehandlingofacase，"saidtheinspector，warmly。"Youwillexcuseme，however，ifIspeakfranklytoyou。Youareonlyanswerabletoyourself，butIhavetoanswertomysuperiors。IfthisAbeSlaney，livingatElrige’s，isindeedthemurderer，andifhehasmadehisescapewhileIamseatedhere，Ishouldcertainlygetintoserioustrouble。"
　　"Youneednotbeuneasy。Hewillnottrytoescape。"
　　"Howdoyouknow？"
　　"Toflywouldbeaconfessionofguilt。"
　　"Thenletusgotoarresthim。"
　　"Iexpecthimhereeveryinstant。"
　　"Butwhyshouldhecome？"
　　"BecauseIhavewrittenandaskedhim。"
　　"Butthisisincredible，Mr。Holmes！Whyshouldhecomebecauseyouhaveaskedhim？Wouldnotsucharequestratherrousehissuspicionsandcausehimtofly？"
　　"IthinkIhaveknownhowtoframetheletter，"saidSherlockHolmes。"Infact，ifIamnotverymuchmistaken，hereisthegentlemanhimselfcomingupthedrive。"
　　Amanwasstridingupthepathwhichledtothedoor。Hewasatall，handsome，swarthyfellow，cladinasuitofgreyflannel，withaPanamahat，abristlingblackbeard，andagreat，aggressivehookednose，andflourishingacaneashewalked。
　　Heswaggeredupthepathasiftheplacebelongedtohim，andweheardhisloud，confidentpealatthebell。
　　"Ithink，gentlemen，"saidHolmes，quietly，"thatwehadbesttakeupourpositionbehindthedoor。Everyprecautionisnecessarywhendealingwithsuchafellow。Youwillneedyourhandcuffs，inspector。Youcanleavethetalkingtome。"
　　Wewaitedinsilenceforaminute——oneofthoseminuteswhichonecanneverforget。Thenthedooropenedandthemansteppedin。InaninstantHolmesclappedapistoltohisheadandMartinslippedthehandcuffsoverhiswrists。Itwasalldonesoswiftlyanddeftlythatthefellowwashelplessbeforeheknewthathewasattacked。Heglaredfromonetotheotherofuswithapairofblazingblackeyes。Thenheburstintoabitterlaugh。
　　"Well，gentlemen，youhavethedroponmethistime。Iseemtohaveknockedupagainstsomethinghard。ButIcamehereinanswertoaletterfromMrs。HiltonCubitt。Don’ttellmethatsheisinthis？Don’ttellmethatshehelpedtosetatrapforme？"
　　"Mrs。HiltonCubittwasseriouslyinjuredandisatdeath’sdoor。"
　　Themangaveahoarsecryofgriefwhichrangthroughthehouse。
　　"You’recrazy！"hecried，fiercely。"Itwashethatwashurt，notshe。WhowouldhavehurtlittleElsie？Imayhavethreatenedher，Godforgiveme，butIwouldnothavetouchedahairofherprettyhead。Takeitback——you！Saythatsheisnothurt！"
　　"Shewasfoundbadlywoundedbythesideofherdeadhusband。"
　　Hesankwithadeepgroanontothesetteeandburiedhisfaceinhismanacledhands。Forfiveminuteshewassilent。Thenheraisedhisfaceoncemore，andspokewiththecoldcomposureofdespair。
　　"Ihavenothingtohidefromyou，gentlemen，"saidhe。
　　"IfIshotthemanhehadhisshotatme，andthere’snomurderinthat。ButifyouthinkIcouldhavehurtthatwoman，thenyoudon’tknoweithermeorher。ItellyoutherewasneveramaninthisworldlovedawomanmorethanIlovedher。Ihadarighttoher。Shewaspledgedtomeyearsago。WhowasthisEnglishmanthatheshouldcomebetweenus？ItellyouthatI
　　hadthefirstrighttoher，andthatIwasonlyclaimingmyown。"
　　"Shebrokeawayfromyourinfluencewhenshefoundthemanthatyouare，"saidHolmes，sternly。"ShefledfromAmericatoavoidyou，andshemarriedanhonourablegentlemaninEngland。
　　Youdoggedherandfollowedherandmadeherlifeamiserytoherinordertoinducehertoabandonthehusbandwhomshelovedandrespectedinordertoflywithyou，whomshefearedandhated。
　　Youhaveendedbybringingaboutthedeathofanoblemananddrivinghiswifetosuicide。Thatisyourrecordinthisbusiness，Mr。AbeSlaney，andyouwillanswerforittothelaw。"
　　"IfElsiediesIcarenothingwhatbecomesofme，"saidtheAmerican。Heopenedoneofhishandsandlookedatanotecrumpledupinhispalm。"Seehere，mister，hecried，withagleamofsuspicioninhiseyes，"you’renottryingtoscaremeoverthis，areyou？Iftheladyishurtasbadasyousay，whowasitthatwrotethisnote？"Hetosseditforwardsontothetable。
　　"Iwroteittobringyouhere。"
　　"Youwroteit？TherewasnooneonearthoutsidetheJointwhoknewthesecretofthedancingmen。Howcameyoutowriteit？"
　　"Whatonemancaninventanothercandiscover，"saidHolmes。
　　ThereisacabcomingtoconveyyoutoNorwich，Mr。Slaney。
　　But，meanwhile，youhavetimetomakesomesmallreparationfortheinjuryyouhavewrought。AreyouawarethatMrs。HiltonCubitthasherselflainundergravesuspicionofthemurderofherhusband，andthatitwasonlymypresencehereandtheknowledgewhichIhappenedtopossesswhichhassavedherfromtheaccusation？Theleastthatyouoweheristomakeitcleartothewholeworldthatshewasinnoway，directlyorindirectly，responsibleforhistragicend。"
　　"Iasknothingbetter，"saidtheAmerican。"IguesstheverybestcaseIcanmakeformyselfistheabsolutenakedtruth。"
　　"Itismydutytowarnyouthatitwillbeusedagainstyou，"
　　criedtheinspector，withthemagnificentfair—playoftheBritishcriminallaw。
　　Slaneyshruggedhisshoulders。
　　"I’llchancethat，"saidhe。"Firstofall，IwantyougentlementounderstandthatIhaveknownthisladysinceshewasachild。ThereweresevenofusinaganginChicago，andElsie’sfatherwasthebossoftheJoint。Hewasacleverman，wasoldPatrick。Itwashewhoinventedthatwriting，whichwouldpassasachild’sscrawlunlessyoujusthappenedtohavethekeytoit。Well，Elsielearnedsomeofourways；butshecouldn’tstandthebusiness，andshehadabitofhonestmoneyofherown，soshegaveusalltheslipandgotawaytoLondon。
　　Shehadbeenengagedtome，andshewouldhavemarriedme，Ibelieve，ifIhadtakenoveranotherprofession；butshewouldhavenothingtodowithanythingonthecross。ItwasonlyafterhermarriagetothisEnglishmanthatIwasabletofindoutwhereshewas。Iwrotetoher，butgotnoanswer。AfterthatIcameover，and，asletterswerenouse，Iputmymessageswhereshecouldreadthem。
　　"Well，Ihavebeenhereamonthnow。Ilivedinthatfarm，whereIhadaroomdownbelow，andcouldgetinandouteverynight，andnoonethewiser。ItriedallIcouldtocoaxElsieaway。Iknewthatshereadthemessages，foronceshewroteananswerunderoneofthem。Thenmytempergotthebetterofme，andIbegantothreatenher。Shesentmealetterthen，imploringmetogoawayandsayingthatitwouldbreakherheartifanyscandalshouldcomeuponherhusband。Shesaidthatshewouldcomedownwhenherhusbandwasasleepatthreeinthemorning，andspeakwithmethroughtheendwindow，ifIwouldgoawayafterwardsandleaveherinpeace。Shecamedownandbroughtmoneywithher，tryingtobribemetogo。Thismadememad，andIcaughtherarmandtriedtopullherthroughthewindow。Atthatmomentinrushedthehusbandwithhisrevolverinhishand。Elsiehadsunkdownuponthefloor，andwewerefacetoface。Iwasheeledalso，andIheldupmyguntoscarehimoffandletmegetaway。Hefiredandmissedme。Ipulledoffalmostatthesameinstant，anddownhedropped。Imadeawayacrossthegarden，andasIwentIheardthewindowshutbehindme。That’sGod’struth，gentlemen，everywordofit，andIheardnomoreaboutituntilthatladcameridingupwithanotewhichmademewalkinhere，likeajay，andgivemyselfintoyourhands。"
　　AcabhaddrivenupwhilsttheAmericanhadbeentalking。
　　Twouniformedpolicemensatinside。InspectorMartinroseandtouchedhisprisonerontheshoulder。