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ElapticAI-512

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“Quite so.
“Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the ground I
gained the trifling details which I gave to that imbecile Lestrade, as
to the personality of the criminal.
“But how did you gain them?
“You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of trifles.
“His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length of his
stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces.
“Yes, they were peculiar boots.
“But his lameness?
“The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than his
left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped—he was lame.
“But his left-handedness.
“You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded by
the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from immediately
behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can that be unless it
were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind that tree during the
interview between the father and son. He had even smoked there. I found
the ash of a cigar, which my special knowledge of tobacco ashes enables
me to pronounce as an Indian cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some
attention to this, and written a little monograph on the ashes of 140
different varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found
the ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss
where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety which
are rolled in Rotterdam.
“And the cigar-holder?
“I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he used
a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the cut was not
a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife.
“Holmes, I said, “you have drawn a net round this man from which he
cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as truly as if
you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the direction in
which all this points. The culprit is—
“Mr. John Turner, cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of our
sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor.
The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His slow,
limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of decrepitude,
and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and his enormous limbs
showed that he was possessed of unusual strength of body and of
character. His tangled beard, grizzled hair, and outstanding, drooping
eyebrows combined to give an air of dignity and power to his
appearance, but his face was of an ashen white, while his lips and the
corners of his nostrils were tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear
to me at a glance that he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic
disease.
“Pray sit down on the sofa, said Holmes gently. “You had my note?
“Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to see
me here to avoid scandal.
“I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall.
“And why did you wish to see me? He looked across at my companion with
despair in his weary eyes, as though his question was already answered.
“Yes, said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. “It is
so. I know all about McCarthy.
The old man sank his face in his hands. “God help me! he cried. “But I
would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you my word that
I would have spoken out if it went against him at the Assizes.
“I am glad to hear you say so, said Holmes gravely.
“I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It would
break her heart—it will break her heart when she hears that I am
arrested.
“It may not come to that, said Holmes.
“What?
“I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter who
required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. Young
McCarthy must be got off, however.
“I am a dying man, said old Turner. “I have had diabetes for years. My
doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a month. Yet I would
rather die under my own roof than in a gaol.
Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand and a
bundle of paper before him. “Just tell us the truth, he said. “I shall
jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson here can witness it.
Then I could produce your confession at the last extremity to save
young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall not use it unless it is