" little more , and it's , for about done up I went on cabbing it for day or so, intending at it until save enough me back to America standing yard when ragged youngster asked if cabby there called Jefferson Hope, and said that his cab was wanted by gentleman at 221B, Baker Street I went round, suspecting no harm, next thing , this young man here had the bracelets on my wrists, and as neatly snackled {27} as ever in my life That's the whole story, gentlemen consider me murderer; but I hold that just an officer of justice "

So thrilling had the man's narrative been, manner was so impressive that we had sat silent and absorbed Even the professional detectives, blase {28} were in every detail of crime, appeared keenly interested man's story When he finished we sat for some minutes in stillness only broken scratching of Lestrade's pencil as the finishing touches shorthand account

" point like little more information," Sherlock Holmes said at last "Who was your accomplice who came ring which I advertised ? "

The prisoner winked at my friend jocosely " tell my own secrets," , "but I don't get other people into trouble your advertisement, and it plant, or it the ring which My friend volunteered you'll own it smartly "

"Not doubt ," said Holmes heartily

"Now, gentlemen," the Inspector remarked gravely, "the forms law complied with On Thursday the prisoner brought magistrates, and your attendance required Until then responsible for him " He rang the bell as he spoke, and Jefferson Hope was led off by couple of warders, while my friend and our way Station and took cab back to Baker Street

CHAPTER VII

THE CONCLUSION

WE had all been warned to appear magistrates Thursday; but Thursday came no occasion testimony higher Judge had taken the matter in hand, and Jefferson Hope summoned before tribunal where strict justice meted out to him very night after his capture the aneurism burst, and found morning stretched floor cell, with placid smile upon his face, he able dying moments to look back upon useful life, and on work well done

"Gregson and Lestrade wild about his death," Holmes remarked, chatted it over next evening "Where will their grand advertisement be now ? "

"I don't see had capture," I answered

"What world is matter of no consequence," returned my companion, bitterly "The question is, what make people believe that you Never mind," he continued, more brightly, after pause " have missed the investigation for anything no better case within my recollection Simple as , there were several most instructive points "

"Simple ! " I ejaculated

"Well, really, it can hardly be described as otherwise," said Sherlock Holmes, smiling at my surprise "The proof intrinsic simplicity is, that without any help save few very ordinary deductions able to lay my hand criminal within three days "

" true," said I

" already explained that common is usually guide rather than hindrance In solving problem sort, the grand thing is to reason backwards very useful accomplishment, and very easy one, but people practise it much every-day affairs of life more useful to reason forwards, and so the other comes neglected fifty reason synthetically reason analytically "

"I confess," said I, "that quite follow you "

"I hardly expected that Let me see if make it clearer Most people, describe train of events , will tell you what the result put those events together in their minds, and argue that something will come few people, however, who, told them result, to evolve from their own inner consciousness what the steps were which led up result This power is what I mean when I talk of reasoning backwards, or analytically "

"I understand," said I

"Now case were given the result and had everything else Now let me endeavour to show you the different steps in my reasoning beginning I approached the house, , on foot, and with my mind entirely free from all impressions I naturally began by examining the roadway, and there, as already explained , clearly the marks of cab, which, I ascertained by inquiry, must there during the night I satisfied myself cab and not private carriage narrow gauge wheels The ordinary London growler is considerably less wide than gentleman's brougham

" the first point gained I then walked slowly down the garden path, which happened composed of clay soil, peculiarly suitable for taking impressions it appeared mere trampled line of slush, but to my trained eyes every mark upon its surface had meaning no branch of detective science so important and neglected art of tracing footsteps Happily, always laid great stress upon it, and much practice it second nature the heavy footmarks constables, but also the track two men who had first passed garden easy others, because in places their marks entirely obliterated others coming top my second link was formed, which told me nocturnal visitors were two in number, one remarkable height (as I calculated length stride), other fashionably dressed, to judge small and elegant impression left by his boots

"On entering the house this last inference was confirmed My well-booted man lay before me The tall one, then, had done the murder, if murder no wound dead man's person, but the agitated expression upon his face assured me that he had foreseen his fate before it came upon him Men who die from heart disease, or any sudden natural cause, never by any chance exhibit agitation upon their features Having sniffed the dead man's lips I detected slightly sour smell, and conclusion that he had had poison forced upon him Again, I argued forced upon him hatred and fear expressed upon his face method of exclusion, I had arrived result, for no other hypothesis would meet the facts imagine very unheard of idea The forcible administration of poison is by no means new thing in criminal annals The cases of Dolsky in Odessa, and of Leturier in Montpellier, will occur at once to any toxicologist