\"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。\"
