"Well, quite evident two men--more, perhaps, but two-- determined for some reason fellow Blessington in my mind that both first and second occasion that young man penetrated to Blessington's room, while his confederate, by an ingenious device, kept the doctor from interfering "

" catalepsy ? "

"A fraudulent imitation, Watson, though hardly dare to hint to our specialist very easy complaint to imitate it myself "

"And then ? "

" purest chance Blessington was out on each occasion Their reason for choosing so unusual an hour for consultation was obviously to insure that there no other patient waiting-room It just happened, however, hour coincided with Blessington's constitutional, which seems to show acquainted daily routine , merely after plunder some attempt to search Besides, read in man's eye when his own skin that frightened for inconceivable fellow made two such vindictive enemies appear without knowing of it I hold it, therefore, certain that know who these men are, for reasons own he suppresses it just possible that to-morrow may find him in more communicative mood "

" not one alternative," I suggested, "grotesquely improbably, , but still just conceivable ? Might the whole story cataleptic Russian son be concoction of Dr Trevelyan's, who has, own purposes, been in Blessington's rooms ? "

gaslight that Holmes wore an amused smile brilliant departure

"My dear fellow," said he, " first solutions which occurred , but soon able to corroborate the doctor's tale This young man has left prints stair-carpet which made it quite superfluous to ask those which he had made room When I tell you that his shoes were square-toed instead of being pointed like Blessington's, and were quite an inch and third longer doctor's, acknowledge that there as individuality But sleep now, for surprised if hear something further from Brook Street morning "

Sherlock Holmes's prophecy was soon fulfilled, and in dramatic fashion At half-past seven next morning, first glimmer of daylight, him standing by my bedside dressing-gown

"There's brougham waiting , Watson," said he

"What's the matter, then ? "

"The Brook Street business "

"Any fresh news ? "

"Tragic, but ambiguous," said he, pulling up the blind "Look --a sheet from note-book, with 'For God's sake come at once--P T ,' scrawled upon it in pencil Our friend, the doctor, was hard put when he wrote this Come along, my dear fellow, 's an urgent call "

In quarter of an hour or so we were back physician's house running out to meet us with face of horror

"Oh, such business ! " he cried, hands temples

"What then ? "

"Blessington has committed suicide ! "

Holmes whistled

"Yes, he hanged himself during the night "

We had entered, doctor had preceded us into evidently his waiting-room

"I really hardly know what doing," he cried "The police are already upstairs It has shaken me most dreadfully "

"When did you find it out ? "

"He has cup of tea taken in to him early every morning maid entered, about seven, there the unfortunate fellow was hanging middle room He had tied his cord hook the heavy lamp used to hang, and he had jumped off top very box that he showed us yesterday "

Holmes stood for moment in deep thought

"With your permission," said he at last, " like upstairs and look matter "

We both ascended, followed doctor

dreadful sight which met us entered the bedroom door spoken impression of flabbiness which this man Blessington conveyed As he dangled hook exaggerated and intensified until scarce human appearance The neck was drawn out like plucked chicken's, making the rest of him seem the more obese and unnatural contrast clad only long night-dress, swollen ankles and ungainly feet protruded starkly from beneath it Beside him stood smart-looking police-inspector, who was taking notes in pocket-book

"Ah, Mr Holmes," said he, heartily, as my friend entered, " delighted you "

"Good-morning, Lanner," answered Holmes; "you won't think me an intruder, heard events which led up affair ? "

"Yes, I heard something "

" formed any opinion ? "

"As far as , the man driven out senses by fright The bed well slept in, There's his impression deep enough It's about five morning, , that suicides are most common about his time for hanging himself It seems very deliberate affair "

" say that he dead about three hours, judging rigidity muscles," said I

"Noticed anything peculiar room ? " asked Holmes

"Found screw-driver and some screws wash-hand stand Seems smoked heavily during the night, too Here are four cigar-ends that I picked fireplace "

"Hum ! " said Holmes, " got his cigar-holder ? "

"No, none "

"His cigar-case, then ? "

"Yes, coat-pocket "

Holmes opened it and smelled the single cigar which it contained

"Oh, an Havana, and these others are cigars peculiar sort which are imported Dutch from their East Indian colonies usually wrapped in straw, , thinner for their length than brand " He picked up the four ends and examined them pocket-lens

"Two smoked from holder and two without," said he "Two cut by not very sharp knife, and two the ends bitten off by set of excellent teeth no suicide, Mr Lanner very deeply planned and cold-blooded murder "

"Impossible ! " cried the inspector

"And why ? "

"Why should murder man in so clumsy fashion as by hanging him ? "

" what out "

"How could they get in ? "

" front door "

" barred morning "

"Then barred after them "

"How ? "

" their traces Excuse me moment, and I some further information "

He went over door, and turning the lock he examined it methodical way Then out the key, inside, and inspected that also The bed, the carpet, the chairs the mantelpiece, the dead body, rope were each in turn examined, until at last he professed himself satisfied, and with my aid inspector cut down the wretched object and laid it reverently under sheet

"How rope ? " he asked

" cut off this," said Dr Trevelyan, drawing large coil from under the bed " morbidly nervous of fire, and always kept this beside him, he might escape window the stairs were burning "