\"Comeup，mydearsir，\"saidHolmes’svoicefromabove。
\"Ihopeyouhavenodesignsuponusonsuchanightasthis。\"
Thedetectivemountedthestairs，andourlampgleameduponhisshiningwaterproof。IhelpedhimoutofitwhileHolmesknockedablazeoutofthelogsinthegrate。
\"Now，mydearHopkins，drawupandwarmyourtoes，\"saidhe。
\"Here’sacigar，andthedoctorhasaprescriptioncontaininghotwaterandalemonwhichisgoodmedicineonanightlikethis。
Itmustbesomethingimportantwhichhasbroughtyououtinsuchagale。\"
\"Itisindeed，Mr。Holmes。I’vehadabustlingafternoon，Ipromiseyou。DidyouseeanythingoftheYoxleycaseinthelatesteditions？\"
\"I’veseennothinglaterthanthefifteenthcenturyto—day。\"
\"Well，itwasonlyaparagraph，andallwrongatthat，soyouhavenotmissedanything。Ihaven’tletthegrassgrowundermyfeet。It’sdowninKent，sevenmilesfromChathamandthreefromtherailwayline。Iwaswiredforatthree—fifteen，reachedYoxleyOldPlaceatfive，conductedmyinvestigation，wasbackatCharingCrossbythelasttrain，andstraighttoyoubycab。\"
\"Whichmeans，Isuppose，thatyouarenotquiteclearaboutyourcase？\"
\"ItmeansthatIcanmakeneitherheadnortailofit。
SofarasIcanseeitisjustastangledabusinessaseverI
handled，andyetatfirstitseemedsosimplethatonecouldn’tgowrong。There’snomotive，Mr。Holmes。That’swhatbothersme——Ican’tputmyhandonamotive。Here’samandead——
there’snodenyingthat——but，sofarasIcansee，noreasononearthwhyanyoneshouldwishhimharm。\"
Holmeslithiscigarandleanedbackinhischair。
\"Letushearaboutit，\"saidhe。
\"I’vegotmyfactsprettyclear，\"saidStanleyHopkins。
\"AllIwantnowistoknowwhattheyallmean。Thestory，sofarasIcanmakeitout，islikethis。Someyearsagothiscountryhouse，YoxleyOldPlace，wastakenbyanelderlyman，whogavethenameofProfessorCoram。Hewasaninvalid，keepinghisbedhalfthetime，andtheotherhalfhobblingroundthehousewithastickorbeingpushedaboutthegroundsbythegardenerinabath—chair。Hewaswelllikedbythefewneighbourswhocalleduponhim，andhehasthereputationdownthereofbeingaverylearnedman。Hishouseholdusedtoconsistofanelderlyhousekeeper，Mrs。Marker，andofamaid，SusanTarlton。
Thesehavebothbeenwithhimsincehisarrival，andtheyseemtobewomenofexcellentcharacter。TheProfessoriswritingalearnedbook，andhefounditnecessaryaboutayearagotoengageasecretary。Thefirsttwothathetriedwerenotsuccesses；butthethird，Mr。WilloughbySmith，averyyoungmanstraightfromtheUniversity，seemstohavebeenjustwhathisemployerwanted。HisworkconsistedinwritingallthemorningtotheProfessor’sdictation，andheusuallyspenttheeveninginhuntingupreferencesandpassageswhichboreuponthenextday’swork。ThisWilloughbySmithhasnothingagainsthimeitherasaboyatUppinghamorasayoungmanatCambridge。
Ihaveseenhistestimonials，andfromthefirsthewasadecent，quiet，hardworkingfellow，withnoweakspotinhimatall。
AndyetthisistheladwhohasmethisdeaththismorningintheProfessor’sstudyundercircumstanceswhichcanpointonlytomurder。\"
Thewindhowledandscreamedatthewindows。HolmesandIdrewclosertothefirewhiletheyounginspectorslowlyandpointbypointdevelopedhissingularnarrative。
\"IfyouweretosearchallEngland，\"saidhe，\"Idon’tsupposeyoucouldfindahouseholdmoreself—containedorfreefromoutsideinfluences。Wholeweekswouldpassandnotoneofthemgopastthegardengate。TheProfessorwasburiedinhisworkandexistedfornothingelse。YoungSmithknewnobodyintheneighbourhood，andlivedverymuchashisemployerdid。Thetwowomenhadnothingtotakethemfromthehouse。Mortimerthegardener，whowheelsthebath—chair，isanArmypensioner——anoldCrimeanmanofexcellentcharacter。Hedoesnotliveinthehouse，butinathree—roomedcottageattheotherendofthegarden。ThosearetheonlypeoplethatyouwouldfindwithinthegroundsofYoxleyOldPlace。Atthesametime，thegateofthegardenisahundredyardsfromthemainLondontoChathamroad。Itopenswithalatch，andthereisnothingtopreventanyonefromwalkingin。
\"NowIwillgiveyoutheevidenceofSusanTarlton，whoistheonlypersonwhocansayanythingpositiveaboutthematter。
Itwasintheforenoon，betweenelevenandtwelve。
Shewasengagedatthemomentinhangingsomecurtainsintheupstairsfrontbedroom。ProfessorCoramwasstillinbed，forwhentheweatherisbadheseldomrisesbeforemidday。
Thehousekeeperwasbusiedwithsomeworkinthebackofthehouse。
WilloughbySmithhadbeeninhisbedroom，whichheusesasasitting—room；butthemaidheardhimatthatmomentpassalongthepassageanddescendtothestudyimmediatelybelowher。
Shedidnotseehim，butshesaysthatshecouldnotbemistakeninhisquick，firmtread。Shedidnothearthestudydoorclose，butaminuteorsolatertherewasadreadfulcryintheroombelow。
Itwasawild，hoarsescream，sostrangeandunnaturalthatitmighthavecomeeitherfromamanorawoman。Atthesameinstanttherewasaheavythud，whichshooktheoldhouse，andthenallwassilence。Themaidstoodpetrifiedforamoment，andthen，recoveringhercourage，sherandownstairs。Thestudydoorwasshut，andsheopenedit。InsideyoungMr。WilloughbySmithwasstretcheduponthefloor。Atfirstshecouldseenoinjury，butasshetriedtoraisehimshesawthatbloodwaspouringfromtheundersideofhisneck。Itwaspiercedbyaverysmallbutverydeepwound，whichhaddividedthecarotidartery。Theinstrumentwithwhichtheinjuryhadbeeninflictedlayuponthecarpetbesidehim。
Itwasoneofthosesmallsealing—waxknivestobefoundonold—fashionedwriting—tables，withanivoryhandleandastiffblade。ItwaspartofthefittingsoftheProfessor’sowndesk。
\"AtfirstthemaidthoughtthatyoungSmithwasalreadydead，butonpouringsomewaterfromthecarafeoverhisforeheadheopenedhiseyesforaninstant。`TheProfessor，’hemurmured——
`itwasshe。’Themaidispreparedtoswearthatthoseweretheexactwords。Hetrieddesperatelytosaysomethingelse，andheheldhisrighthandupintheair。Thenhefellbackdead。
\"Inthemeantimethehousekeeperhadalsoarriveduponthescene，butshewasjusttoolatetocatchtheyoungman’sdyingwords。
LeavingSusanwiththebody，shehurriedtotheProfessor’sroom。
Hewassittingupinbedhorriblyagitated，forhehadheardenoughtoconvincehimthatsomethingterriblehadoccurred。
Mrs。MarkerispreparedtoswearthattheProfessorwasstillinhisnight—clothes，and，indeed，itwasimpossibleforhimtodresswithoutthehelpofMortimer，whoseordersweretocomeattwelveo’clock。TheProfessordeclaresthatheheardthedistantcry，butthatheknowsnothingmore。Hecangivenoexplanationoftheyoungman’slastwords，`TheProfessor——
itwasshe，’butimaginesthattheyweretheoutcomeofdelirium。
HebelievesthatWilloughbySmithhadnotanenemyintheworld，andcangivenoreasonforthecrime。HisfirstactionwastosendMortimerthegardenerforthelocalpolice。Alittlelaterthechiefconstablesentforme。NothingwasmovedbeforeI
gotthere，andstrictordersweregiventhatnooneshouldwalkuponthepathsleadingtothehouse。Itwasasplendidchanceofputtingyourtheoriesintopractice，Mr。SherlockHolmes。
Therewasreallynothingwanting。\"
\"ExceptMr。SherlockHolmes，\"saidmycompanion，withasomewhatbittersmile。\"Well，letushearaboutit。Whatsortofjobdidyoumakeofit？\"
\"Imustaskyoufirst，Mr。Holmes，toglanceatthisroughplan，whichwillgiveyouageneralideaofthepositionoftheProfessor’sstudyandthevariouspointsofthecase。
Itwillhelpyouinfollowingmyinvestigation。\"
Heunfoldedtheroughchart，whichIherereproduce，andhelaiditacrossHolmes’sknee。Irose，and，standingbehindHolmes，Istudieditoverhisshoulder。
GRAPHIC
\"Itisveryrough，ofcourse，anditonlydealswiththepointswhichseemtometobeessential。Alltherestyouwillseelaterforyourself。Now，firstofall，presumingthattheassassinenteredthehouse，howdidheorshecomein？
Undoubtedlybythegardenpathandthebackdoor，fromwhichthereisdirectaccesstothestudy。Anyotherwaywouldhavebeenexceedinglycomplicated。Theescapemusthavealsobeenmadealongthatline，forofthetwootherexitsfromtheroomonewasblockedbySusanassherandownstairsandtheotherleadsstraighttotheProfessor’sbedroom。Ithereforedirectedmyattentionatoncetothegardenpath，whichwassaturatedwithrecentrainandwouldcertainlyshowanyfootmarks。
\"MyexaminationshowedmethatIwasdealingwithacautiousandexpertcriminal。Nofootmarksweretobefoundonthepath。
Therecouldbenoquestion，however，thatsomeonehadpassedalongthegrassborderwhichlinesthepath，andthathehaddonesoinordertoavoidleavingatrack。Icouldnotfindanythinginthenatureofadistinctimpression，butthegrasswastroddendownandsomeonehadundoubtedlypassed。Itcouldonlyhavebeenthemurderer，sinceneitherthegardenernoranyoneelsehadbeentherethatmorningandtherainhadonlybegunduringthenight。\"
\"Onemoment，\"saidHolmes。\"Wheredoesthispathleadto？\"
\"Totheroad。\"
\"Howlongisit？\"
\"Ahundredyardsorso。\"
\"Atthepointwherethepathpassesthroughthegateyoucouldsurelypickupthetracks？\"
\"Unfortunately，thepathwastiledatthatpoint。\"
\"Well，ontheroaditself？\"
\"No；itwasalltroddenintomire。\"
\"Tut—tut！Well，then，thesetracksuponthegrass，weretheycomingorgoing？\"
\"Itwasimpossibletosay。Therewasneveranyoutline。\"
\"Alargefootorasmall？\"
\"Youcouldnotdistinguish。\"
Holmesgaveanejaculationofimpatience。
\"Ithasbeenpouringrainandblowingahurricaneeversince，\"
saidhe。\"Itwillbehardertoreadnowthanthatpalimpsest。
Well，well，itcan’tbehelped。Whatdidyoudo，Hopkins，afteryouhadmadecertainthatyouhadmadecertainofnothing？\"
\"IthinkImadecertainofagooddeal，Mr。Holmes。
Iknewthatsomeonehadenteredthehousecautiouslyfromwithout。
Inextexaminedthecorridor。Itislinedwithcocoanutmattingandhadtakennoimpressionofanykind。Thisbroughtmeintothestudyitself。Itisascantily—furnishedroom。Themainarticleisalargewriting—tablewithafixedbureau。Thisbureauconsistsofadoublecolumnofdrawerswithacentralsmallcupboardbetweenthem。Thedrawerswereopen，thecupboardlocked。
Thedrawers，itseems，werealwaysopen，andnothingofvaluewaskeptinthem。Thereweresomepapersofimportanceinthecupboard，buttherewerenosignsthatthishadbeentamperedwith，andtheProfessorassuresmethatnothingwasmissing。Itiscertainthatnorobberyhasbeencommitted。
\"Icomenowtothebodyoftheyoungman。
Itwasfoundnearthebureau，andjusttotheleftofit，asmarkeduponthatchart。Thestabwasontherightsideoftheneckandfrombehindforwards，sothatitisalmostimpossiblethatitcouldhavebeenself—inflicted。\"
\"Unlesshefellupontheknife，\"saidHolmes。
\"Exactly。Theideacrossedmymind。Butwefoundtheknifesomefeetawayfromthebody，sothatseemsimpossible。Then，ofcourse，therearetheman’sowndyingwords。And，finally，therewasthisveryimportantpieceofevidencewhichwasfoundclaspedinthedeadman’srighthand。\"
FromhispocketStanleyHopkinsdrewasmallpaperpacket。
Heunfoldeditanddisclosedagoldenpince—nez，withtwobrokenendsofblacksilkcorddanglingfromtheendofit。
\"WilloughbySmithhadexcellentsight，\"headded。\"Therecanbenoquestionthatthiswassnatchedfromthefaceorthepersonoftheassassin。\"
SherlockHolmestooktheglassesintohishandandexaminedthemwiththeutmostattentionandinterest。Heheldthemonhisnose，endeavouredtoreadthroughthem，wenttothewindowandstaredupthestreetwiththem，lookedatthemmostminutelyinthefulllightofthelamp，andfinally，withachuckle，seatedhimselfatthetableandwroteafewlinesuponasheetofpaper，whichhetossedacrosstoStanleyHopkins。
\"That’sthebestIcandoforyou，\"saidhe。
\"Itmayprovetobeofsomeuse。\"
Theastonisheddetectivereadthenotealoud。Itranasfollows：——
\"Wanted，awomanofgoodaddress，attiredlikealady。
Shehasaremarkablythicknose，witheyeswhicharesetcloseuponeithersideofit。Shehasapuckeredforehead，apeeringexpression，andprobablyroundedshoulders。Thereareindicationsthatshehashadrecoursetoanopticianatleasttwiceduringthelastfewmonths。Asherglassesareofremarkablestrengthandasopticiansarenotverynumerous，thereshouldbenodifficultyintracingher。\"
HolmessmiledattheastonishmentofHopkins，whichmusthavebeenreflecteduponmyfeatures。
\"Surelymydeductionsaresimplicityitself，\"saidhe。
\"Itwouldbedifficulttonameanyarticleswhichaffordafinerfieldforinferencethanapairofglasses，especiallysoremarkableapairasthese。ThattheybelongtoawomanI
inferfromtheirdelicacy，andalso，ofcourse，fromthelastwordsofthedyingman。Astoherbeingapersonofrefinementandwelldressed，theyare，asyouperceive，handsomelymountedinsolidgold，anditisinconceivablethatanyonewhoworesuchglassescouldbeslatternlyinotherrespects。Youwillfindthattheclipsaretoowideforyournose，showingthatthelady’snosewasverybroadatthebase。Thissortofnoseisusuallyashortandcoarseone，butthereareasufficientnumberofexceptionstopreventmefrombeingdogmaticorfrominsistinguponthispointinmydescription。Myownfaceisanarrowone，andyetIfindthatIcannotgetmyeyesintothecentre，ornearthecentre，oftheseglasses。Thereforethelady’seyesaresetveryneartothesidesofthenose。Youwillperceive，Watson，thattheglassesareconcaveandofunusualstrength。
Aladywhosevisionhasbeensoextremelycontractedallherlifeissuretohavethephysicalcharacteristicsofsuchvision，whichareseenintheforehead，theeyelids，andtheshoulders。\"
\"Yes，\"Isaid，\"Icanfolloweachofyourarguments。Iconfess，however，thatIamunabletounderstandhowyouarriveatthedoublevisittotheoptician。\"
Holmestooktheglassesinhishand。
\"Youwillperceive，\"hesaid，\"thattheclipsarelinedwithtinybandsofcorktosoftenthepressureuponthenose。Oneoftheseisdiscolouredandworntosomeslightextent，buttheotherisnew。Evidentlyonehasfallenoffandbeenreplaced。
Ishouldjudgethattheolderofthemhasnotbeentheremorethanafewmonths。Theyexactlycorrespond，soIgatherthattheladywentbacktothesameestablishmentforthesecond。\"
\"ByGeorge，it’smarvellous！\"criedHopkins，inanecstasyofadmiration。\"TothinkthatIhadallthatevidenceinmyhandandneverknewit！Ihadintended，however，togotheroundoftheLondonopticians。\"
\"Ofcourseyouwould。Meanwhile，haveyouanythingmoretotellusaboutthecase？\"
\"Nothing，Mr。Holmes。IthinkthatyouknowasmuchasIdonow——probablymore。Wehavehadinquiriesmadeastoanystrangerseenonthecountryroadsorattherailwaystation。
Wehaveheardofnone。Whatbeatsmeistheutterwantofallobjectinthecrime。Notaghostofamotivecananyonesuggest。\"
\"Ah！thereIamnotinapositiontohelpyou。ButIsupposeyouwantustocomeoutto—morrow？\"
\"Ifitisnotaskingtoomuch，Mr。Holmes。There’satrainfromCharingCrosstoChathamatsixinthemorning，andweshouldbeatYoxleyOldPlacebetweeneightandnine。\"
\"Thenweshalltakeit。Yourcasehascertainlysomefeaturesofgreatinterest，andIshallbedelightedtolookintoit。
Well，it’snearlyone，andwehadbestgetafewhours’sleep。
Idaresayyoucanmanageallrightonthesofainfrontofthefire。I’lllightmyspirit—lampandgiveyouacupofcoffeebeforewestart。\"
Thegalehadblownitselfoutnextday，butitwasabittermorningwhenwestarteduponourjourney。WesawthecoldwintersunriseoverthedrearymarshesoftheThamesandthelong，sullenreachesoftheriver，whichIshalleverassociatewithourpursuitoftheAndamanIslanderintheearlierdaysofourcareer。AfteralongandwearyjourneywealightedatasmallstationsomemilesfromChatham。Whileahorsewasbeingputintoatrapatthelocalinnwesnatchedahurriedbreakfast，andsowewereallreadyforbusinesswhenweatlastarrivedatYoxleyOldPlace。Aconstablemetusatthegardengate。
\"Well，Wilson，anynews？\"
\"No，sir，nothing。\"
\"Noreportsofanystrangerseen？\"
\"No，sir。Downatthestationtheyarecertainthatnostrangereithercameorwentyesterday。\"
\"Haveyouhadinquiriesmadeatinnsandlodgings？\"
\"Yes，sir；thereisnoonethatwecannotaccountfor。\"
\"Well，it’sonlyareasonablewalktoChatham。Anyonemightstaythere，ortakeatrainwithoutbeingobserved。ThisisthegardenpathofwhichIspoke，Mr。Holmes。I’llpledgemywordtherewasnomarkonityesterday。\"
\"Onwhichsidewerethemarksonthegrass？\"
\"Thisside，sir。Thisnarrowmarginofgrassbetweenthepathandtheflower—bed。Ican’tseethetracesnow，buttheywerecleartomethen。\"
\"Yes，yes；someonehaspassedalong，\"saidHolmes，stoopingoverthegrassborder。\"Ourladymusthavepickedherstepscarefully，mustshenot，sinceontheonesideshewouldleaveatrackonthepath，andontheotheranevencleareroneonthesoftbed？\"
\"Yes，sir，shemusthavebeenacoolhand。\"
IsawanintentlookpassoverHolmes’sface。
\"Yousaythatshemusthavecomebackthisway？\"
\"Yes，sir；thereisnoother。\"
\"Onthisstripofgrass？\"
\"Certainly，Mr。Holmes。\"
\"Hum！Itwasaveryremarkableperformance——veryremarkable。
Well，Ithinkwehaveexhaustedthepath。Letusgofarther。
Thisgardendoorisusuallykeptopen，Isuppose？Thenthisvisitorhadnothingtodobuttowalkin。Theideaofmurderwasnotinhermind，orshewouldhaveprovidedherselfwithsomesortofweapon，insteadofhavingtopickthisknifeoffthewriting—table。Sheadvancedalongthiscorridor，leavingnotracesuponthecocoanutmatting。Thenshefoundherselfinthisstudy。Howlongwasshethere？Wehavenomeansofjudging。\"
\"Notmorethanafewminutes，sir。IforgottotellyouthatMrs。Marker，thehousekeeper，hadbeenintheretidyingnotverylongbefore——aboutaquarterofanhour，shesays。\"
\"Well，thatgivesusalimit。Ourladyentersthisroomandwhatdoesshedo？Shegoesovertothewriting—table。
Whatfor？Notforanythinginthedrawers。Iftherehadbeenanythingworthhertakingitwouldsurelyhavebeenlockedup。
No；itwasforsomethinginthatwoodenbureau。Halloa！whatisthatscratchuponthefaceofit？Justholdamatch，Watson。
Whydidyounottellmeofthis，Hopkins？\"
Themarkwhichhewasexaminingbeganuponthebrassworkontheright—handsideofthekeyhole，andextendedforaboutfourinches，whereithadscratchedthevarnishfromthesurface。
\"Inoticedit，Mr。Holmes。Butyou’llalwaysfindscratchesroundakeyhole。\"
\"Thisisrecent，quiterecent。Seehowthebrassshineswhereitiscut。Anoldscratchwouldbethesamecolourasthesurface。
Lookatitthroughmylens。There’sthevarnish，too，likeearthoneachsideofafurrow。IsMrs。Markerthere？\"
Asad—faced，elderlywomancameintotheroom。
\"Didyoudustthisbureauyesterdaymorning？\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"Didyounoticethisscratch？\"
\"No，sir，Ididnot。\"
\"Iamsureyoudidnot，foradusterwouldhavesweptawaytheseshredsofvarnish。Whohasthekeyofthisbureau？\"
\"TheProfessorkeepsitonhiswatch—chain。\"
\"Isitasimplekey？\"
\"No，sir；itisaChubb’skey。\"
\"Verygood。Mrs。Marker，youcango。Nowwearemakingalittleprogress。Ourladyenterstheroom，advancestothebureau，andeitheropensitortriestodoso。WhilesheisthusengagedyoungWilloughbySmithenterstheroom。Inherhurrytowithdrawthekeyshemakesthisscratchuponthedoor。
Heseizesher，andshe，snatchingupthenearestobject，whichhappenstobethisknife，strikesathiminordertomakehimletgohishold。Theblowisafatalone。Hefallsandsheescapes，eitherwithorwithouttheobjectforwhichshehascome。IsSusanthemaidthere？Couldanyonehavegotawaythroughthatdoorafterthetimethatyouheardthecry，Susan？\"
\"Nosir；itisimpossible。BeforeIgotdownthestairI’dhaveseenanyoneinthepassage。Besides，thedoorneveropened，forIwouldhaveheardit。\"
\"Thatsettlesthisexit。Thennodoubttheladywentoutthewayshecame。IunderstandthatthisotherpassageleadsonlytotheProfessor’sroom。Thereisnoexitthatway？\"
\"No，sir。\"
\"WeshallgodownitandmaketheacquaintanceoftheProfessor。
Halloa，Hopkins！thisisveryimportant，veryimportantindeed。
TheProfessor’scorridorisalsolinedwithcocoanutmatting。\"
\"Well，sir，whatofthat？\"
\"Don’tyouseeanybearinguponthecase？Well，well，Idon’tinsistuponit。NodoubtIamwrong。Andyetitseemstometobesuggestive。Comewithmeandintroduceme。\"
Wepasseddownthepassage，whichwasofthesamelengthasthatwhichledtothegarden。Attheendwasashortflightofstepsendinginadoor。Ourguideknocked，andthenusheredusintotheProfessor’sbedroom。
Itwasaverylargechamber，linedwithinnumerablevolumes，whichhadoverflowedfromtheshelvesandlayinpilesinthecorners，orwerestackedallroundatthebaseofthecases。
Thebedwasinthecentreoftheroom，andinit，proppedupwithpillows，wastheownerofthehouse。Ihaveseldomseenamoreremarkable—lookingperson。Itwasagaunt，aquilinefacewhichwasturnedtowardsus，withpiercingdarkeyes，whichlurkedindeephollowsunderoverhungandtuftedbrows。Hishairandbeardwerewhite，savethatthelatterwascuriouslystainedwithyellowaroundhismouth。Acigaretteglowedamidthetangleofwhitehair，andtheairoftheroomwasfetidwithstaletobacco—smoke。AsheheldouthishandtoHolmesIperceivedthatitalsowasstainedyellowwithnicotine。
\"Asmoker，Mr。Holmes？\"saidhe，speakingwell—chosenEnglishwithacuriouslittlemincingaccent。\"Praytakeacigarette。
Andyou，sir？Icanrecommendthem，forIhavethemespeciallypreparedbyIonidesofAlexandria。Hesendsmeathousandatatime，andIgrievetosaythatIhavetoarrangeforafreshsupplyeveryfortnight。Bad，sir，verybad，butanoldmanhasfewpleasures。Tobaccoandmywork——thatisallthatislefttome。\"
Holmeshadlitacigarette，andwasshootinglittledartingglancesallovertheroom。
\"Tobaccoandmywork，butnowonlytobacco，\"theoldmanexclaimed。
\"Alas！whatafatalinterruption！Whocouldhaveforeseensuchaterriblecatastrophe？Soestimableayoungman！Iassureyouthatafterafewmonths’traininghewasanadmirableassistant。
Whatdoyouthinkofthematter，Mr。Holmes？\"
\"Ihavenotyetmadeupmymind。\"
\"Ishallindeedbeindebtedtoyouifyoucanthrowalightwhereallissodarktous。Toapoorbookwormandinvalidlikemyselfsuchablowisparalyzing。Iseemtohavelostthefacultyofthought。Butyouareamanofaction——youareamanofaffairs。Itispartoftheeverydayroutineofyourlife。
Youcanpreserveyourbalanceineveryemergency。Wearefortunateindeedinhavingyouatourside。\"
HolmeswaspacingupanddownonesideoftheroomwhilsttheoldProfessorwastalking。Iobservedthathewassmokingwithextraordinaryrapidity。Itwasevidentthathesharedourhost’slikingforthefreshAlexandriancigarettes。
\"Yes，sir，itisacrushingblow，\"saidtheoldman。\"ThatismyMAGNUMOPUS——thepileofpapersonthesidetableyonder。
ItismyanalysisofthedocumentsfoundintheCopticmonasteriesofSyriaandEgypt，aworkwhichwillcutdeepattheveryfoundationsofrevealedreligion。WithmyenfeebledhealthIdonotknowwhetherIshalleverbeabletocompleteitnowthatmyassistanthasbeentakenfromme。Dearme，Mr。Holmes；
why，youareevenaquickersmokerthanIammyself。\"
Holmessmiled。
\"Iamaconnoisseur，\"saidhe，takinganothercigarettefromthebox——hisfourth——andlightingitfromthestubofthatwhichhehadfinished。\"Iwillnottroubleyouwithanylengthycross—examination，ProfessorCoram，sinceIgatherthatyouwereinbedatthetimeofthecrimeandcouldknownothingaboutit。
Iwouldonlyaskthis。Whatdoyouimaginethatthispoorfellowmeantbyhislastwords：`TheProfessor——itwasshe’？\"
TheProfessorshookhishead。
