第17章

Whenhe"cameto，"asthephrasegoes，hewasastartlingobjecttolookat，withhiscolorlessface，hissunkencheeks，hiswildblackeyes，andhislongblackhair。ThefirstquestionheaskedmeabouthimselfwhenhecouldspeakmademesuspectthatIhadbeencalledintoamaninmyownprofession。Imentionedtohimmysurmise，andhetoldmethatIwasright。

HesaidhehadcomelastfromParis，wherehehadbeenattachedtoahospital；thathehadlatelyreturnedtoEngland，onhiswaytoEdinburgh，tocontinuehisstudies；thathehadbeentakenillonthejourney；andthathehadstoppedtorestandrecoverhimselfatDoncaster。Hedidnotaddawordabouthisname，orwhohewas，andofcourseIdidnotquestionhimonthesubject。

AllIinquiredwhenheceasedspeakingwaswhatbranchoftheprofessionheintendedtofollow。

"Anybranch，"hesaid，bitterly，"whichwillputbreadintothemouthofapoorman。"

Atthis，Arthur，whohadbeenhithertowatchinghiminsilentcuriosity，burstoutimpetuouslyinhisusualgood—humoredway：

"Mydearfellow"（everybodywas"mydearfellow"withArthur），"nowyouhavecometolifeagain，don’tbeginbybeingdown—heartedaboutyourprospects。I’llanswerforitIcanhelpyoutosomecapitalthinginthemedicalline，or，ifIcan’t，I

knowmyfathercan。"

Themedicalstudentlookedathimsteadily。

"Thankyou，"hesaid，coldly；thenadded，"MayIaskwhoyourfatheris？"

"He’swellenoughknownallaboutthispartofthecountry，"

repliedArthur。"Heisagreatmanufacturer，andhisnameisHolliday。"

Myhandwasontheman’swristduringthisbriefconversation。

TheinstantthenameofHollidaywaspronouncedIfeltthepulseundermyfingersflutter，stop，goonsuddenlywithabound，andbeatafterwardforaminuteortwoatthefeverrate。

"Howdidyoucomehere？"askedthestranger，quickly，excitably，passionatelyalmost。

Arthurrelatedbrieflywhathadhappenedfromthetimeofhisfirsttakingthebedattheinn。

"IamindebtedtoMr。Holliday’sson，then，forthehelpthathassavedmylife，"saidthemedicalstudent，speakingtohimself，withasingularsarcasminhisvoice。"Comehere！"

Heheldout，ashespoke，hislong，white，bonyrighthand。

"Withallmyheart，"saidArthur，takinghishandcordially。"I

mayconfessitnow，"hecontinued，laughing，"uponmyhonor，youalmostfrightenedmeoutofmywits。"

Thestrangerdidnotseemtolisten。HiswildblackeyeswerefixedwithalookofeagerinterestonArthur’sface，andhislongbonyfingerskepttightholdofArthur’shand。YoungHolliday，onhisside，returnedthegaze，amazedandpuzzledbythemedicalstudent’soddlanguageandmanners。Thetwofaceswereclosetogether；Ilookedatthem，and，tomyamazement，I

wassuddenlyimpressedbythesenseofalikenessbetweenthem——notinfeaturesorcomplexion，butsolelyinexpression。Itmusthavebeenastronglikeness，orIshouldcertainlynothavefounditout，forIamnaturallyslowatdetectingresemblancesbetweenfaces。

"Youhavesavedmylife，"saidthestrangeman，stilllookinghardinArthur’sface，stillholdingtightlybyhishand。"Ifyouhadbeenmyownbrother，youcouldnothavedonemoreformethanthat。"

Helaidasingularlystrongemphasisonthosethreewords"myownbrother，"andachangepassedoverhisfaceashepronouncedthem——achangethatnolanguageofmineiscompetenttodescribe。

"IhopeIhavenotdonebeingofservicetoyouyet，"saidArthur。"I’llspeaktomyfatherassoonasIgethome。"

"Youseemtobefondandproudofyourfather，"saidthemedicalstudent。"Isuppose，inreturn，heisfondandproudofyou？"

"Ofcourseheis，"answeredArthur，laughing。"Isthereanythingwonderfulinthat？Isn’t_your_fatherfond——"

ThestrangersuddenlydroppedyoungHolliday’shandandturnedhisfaceaway。

"Ibegyourpardon，"saidArthur。"IhopeIhavenotunintentionallypainedyou。Ihopeyouhavenotlostyourfather？"

"Ican’twelllosewhatIhaveneverhad，"retortedthemedicalstudent，withaharshmockinglaugh。

"Whatyouhaveneverhad！"

ThestrangemansuddenlycaughtArthur’shandagain，suddenlylookedoncemorehardinhisface。

"Yes，"hesaid，witharepetitionofthebitterlaugh。"Youhavebroughtapoordevilbackintotheworldwhohasnobusinessthere。DoIastonishyou？Well，Ihaveafancyofmyownfortellingyouwhatmeninmysituationgenerallykeepasecret。I

havenonameandnofather。ThemercifullawofsocietytellsmeIamnobody’sson！Askyourfatherifhewillbemyfathertoo，andhelpmeoninlifewiththefamilyname。"

Arthurlookedatmemorepuzzledthanever。

Isignedtohimtosaynothing，andthenlaidmyfingersagainontheman’swrist。No。Inspiteoftheextraordinaryspeechthathehadjustmade，hewasnot，asIhadbeendisposedtosuspect，beginningtogetlight—headed。Hispulse，bythistime，hadfallenbacktoaquiet，slowbeat，andhisskinwasmoistandcool。Notasymptomoffeveroragitationabouthim。

Findingthatneitherofusansweredhim，heturnedtome，andbegantalkingoftheextraordinarynatureofhiscase，andaskingmyadviceaboutthefuturecourseofmedicaltreatmenttowhichheoughttosubjecthimself。Isaidthematterrequiredcarefulthinkingover，andsuggestedthatIshouldsendhimaprescriptionalittlelater。Hetoldmetowriteitatonce，ashewouldmostlikelybeleavingDoncasterinthemorningbeforeI

wasup。Itwasquiteuselesstorepresenttohimthefollyanddangerofsuchaproceedingasthis。Heheardmepolitelyandpatiently，butheldtohisresolution，withoutofferinganyreasonsorexplanations，andrepeatedtomethat，ifIwishedtogivehimachanceofseeingmyprescription，Imustwriteitatonce。

Hearingthis，Arthurvolunteeredtheloanofatravelingwriting—case，whichhesaidhehadwithhim，and，bringingittothebed，shookthenote—paperoutofthepocketofthecaseforthwithinhisusualcarelessway。Withthepapertherefelloutonthecounterpaneofthebedasmallpacketofsticking—plaster，andalittlewater—colordrawingofalandscape。

Themedicalstudenttookupthedrawingandlookedatit。Hiseyefellonsomeinitialsneatlywrittenincipherinonecorner。Hestartedandtrembled；hispalefacegrewwhiterthanover；hiswildblackeyesturnedonArthur，andlookedthroughandthroughhim。

"Aprettydrawing，"hesaid，inaremarkablyquiettoneofvoice。

"Ah！anddonebysuchaprettygirl，"saidArthur。"Oh，suchaprettygirl！Iwishitwasnotalandscape——Iwishitwasaportraitofher！"

"Youadmireherverymuch？"

Arthur，halfinjest，halfinearnest，kissedhishandforanswer。

"Loveatfirstsight，"saidyoungHolliday，puttingthedrawingawayagain。"Butthecourseofitdoesn’trunsmooth。It’stheoldstory。She’smonopolized，asusual；trammeledbyarashengagementtosomepoormanwhoisneverlikelytogetmoneyenoughtomarryher。ItwasluckyIheardofitintime，orI

shouldcertainlyhaveriskedadeclarationwhenshegavemethatdrawing。Here，doctor，hereispen，ink，andpaperallreadyforyou。"

"Whenshegaveyouthatdrawing？Gaveit？gaveit？"

Herepeatedthewordsslowlytohimself，andsuddenlyclosedhiseyes。Amomentarydistortionpassedacrosshisface，andIsawoneofhishandsclutchupthebedclothesandsqueezethemhard。

Ithoughthewasgoingtobeillagain，andbeggedthattheremightbenomoretalking。HeopenedhiseyeswhenIspoke，fixedthemoncemoresearchinglyonArthur，andsaid，slowlyanddistinctly：

"Youlikeher，andshelikesyou。Thepoormanmaydieoutofyourway。Whocantellthatshemaynotgiveyouherselfaswellasherdrawing，afterall？"

BeforeyoungHollidaycouldanswerheturnedtome，andsaidinawhisper："Nowfortheprescription。"Fromthattime，thoughhespoketoArthuragain，heneverlookedathimmore。

WhenIhadwrittentheprescription，heexaminedit，approvedofit，andthenastonishedusbothbyabruptlywishingusgood—night。Iofferedtositupwithhim，andheshookhishead。

Arthurofferedtositupwithhim，andhesaid，shortly，withhisfaceturnedaway，"No。"Iinsistedonhavingsomebodylefttowatchhim。HegavewaywhenhefoundIwasdetermined，andsaidhewouldaccepttheservicesofthewaiterattheinn。

"Thankyouboth，"hesaid，aswerosetogo。"Ihaveonelastfavortoask——notofyou，doctor，forIleaveyoutoexerciseyourprofessionaldiscretion，butofMr。Holliday。"Hiseyes，whilehespoke，stillrestedsteadilyonme，andneveronceturnedtowardArthur。"IbegthatMr。Hollidaywillnotmentiontoanyone，leastofalltohisfather，theeventsthathaveoccurredandthewordsthathavepassedinthisroom。Ientreathimtoburymeinhismemoryas，butforhim，Imighthavebeenburiedinmygrave。Icannotgivemyreasonformakingthisstrangerequest。Icanonlyimplorehimtograntit。"

Hisvoicefalteredforthefirsttime，andhehidhisfaceonthepillow。Arthur，completelybewildered，gavetherequiredpledge。

ItookyoungHollidayawaywithmeimmediatelyafterwardtothehouseofmyfriend，determiningtogobacktotheinnandtoseethemedicalstudentagainbeforehehadleftinthemorning。

Ireturnedtotheinnateighto’clock，purposelyabstainingfromwakingArthur，whowassleepingoffthepastnight’sexcitementononeofmyfriend’ssofas。Asuspicionhadoccurredtome，assoonasIwasaloneinmybedroom，whichmademeresolvethatHollidayandthestrangerwhoselifehehadsavedshouldnotmeetagain，ifIcouldpreventit。

IhavealreadyalludedtocertainreportsorscandalswhichI

knewofrelatingtotheearlylifeofArthur’sfather。WhileI

wasthinking，inmybed，ofwhathadpassedattheinn；ofthechangeinthestudent’spulsewhenheheardthenameofHolliday；

oftheresemblanceofexpressionthatIhaddiscoveredbetweenhisfaceandArthur’s；oftheemphasishehadlaidonthosethreewords，"myownbrother，"andofhisincomprehensibleacknowledgmentofhisownillegitimacy——whileIwasthinkingofthesethings，thereportsIhavementionedsuddenlyflewintomymind，andlinkedthemselvesfasttothechainofmypreviousreflections。Somethingwithinmewhispered，"Itisbestthatthosetwoyoungmenshouldnotmeetagain。"IfeltitbeforeI

slept；IfeltitwhenIwoke；andIwentasItoldyou，alonetotheinnthenextmorning。

Ihadmissedmyonlyopportunityofseeingmynamelesspatientagain。HehadbeengonenearlyanhourwhenIinquiredforhim。

IhavenowtoldyoueverythingthatIknowforcertaininrelationtothemanwhomIbroughtbacktolifeinthedouble—beddedroomoftheinnatDoncaster。WhatIhavenexttoaddismatterforinferenceandsurmise，andisnot，strictlyspeaking，matteroffact。

Ihavetotellyou，first，thatthemedicalstudentturnedouttobestrangelyandunaccountablyrightinassumingitasmorethanprobablethatArthurHollidaywouldmarrytheyoungladywhohadgivenhimthewater—colordrawingofthelandscape。ThatmarriagetookplacealittlemorethanayearaftertheeventsoccurredwhichIhavejustbeenrelating。

TheyoungcouplecametoliveintheneighborhoodinwhichIwasthenestablishedinpractice。Iwaspresentatthewedding，andwasrathersurprisedtofindthatArthurwassingularlyreservedwithme，bothbeforeandafterhismarriage，onthesubjectoftheyounglady’spriorengagement。Heonlyreferredtoitoncewhenwewerealone，merelytellingme，onthatoccasion，thathiswifehaddoneallthathonoranddutyrequiredofherinthematter，andthattheengagementhadbeenbrokenoffwiththefullapprovalofherparents。Ineverheardmorefromhimthanthis。

Forthreeyearsheandhiswifelivedtogetherhappily。AttheexpirationofthattimethesymptomsofaseriousillnessfirstdeclaredthemselvesinMrs。ArthurHolliday。Itturnedouttobealong，lingering，hopelessmalady。Iattendedherthroughout。Wehadbeengreatfriendswhenshewaswell，andwebecamemoreattachedtoeachotherthaneverwhenshewasill。Ihadmanylongandinterestingconversationswithherintheintervalswhenshesufferedleast。TheresultofoneofthoseconversationsI

maybrieflyrelate，leavingyoutodrawanyinferencesfromitthatyouplease。

TheinterviewtowhichIreferoccurredshortlybeforeherdeath。

Icalledoneeveningasusual，andfoundheralone，withalookinhereyeswhichtoldmeshehadbeencrying。Sheonlyinformedmeatfirstthatshehadbeendepressedinspirits，butbylittleandlittleshebecamemorecommunicative，andconfessedtomethatshehadbeenlookingoversomeoldletterswhichhadbeenaddressedtoher，beforeshehadseenArthur，byamantowhomshehadbeenengagedtobemarried。Iaskedherhowtheengagementcametobebrokenoff。Sherepliedthatithadnotbeenbrokenoff，butthatithaddiedoutinaverymysteriousway。Thepersontowhomshewasengaged——herfirstlove，shecalledhim——wasverypoor，andtherewasnoimmediateprospectoftheirbeingmarried。Hefollowedmyprofession，andwentabroadtostudy。Theyhadcorrespondedregularlyuntilthetimewhen，asshebelieved，hehadreturnedtoEngland。Fromthatperiodsheheardnomoreofhim。Hewasofafretful，sensitivetemperament，andshefearedthatshemighthaveinadvertentlydoneorsaidsomethingtooffendhim。Howeverthatmightbe，hehadneverwrittentoheragain，andafterwaitingayearshehadmarriedArthur。Iaskedwhenthefirstestrangementhadbegun，andfoundthatthetimeatwhichsheceasedtohearanythingofherfirstloverexactlycorrespondedwiththetimeatwhichIhadbeencalledintomymysteriouspatientatTheTwoRobinsInn。

Afortnightafterthatconversationshedied。IncourseoftimeArthurmarriedagain。OflateyearshehaslivedprincipallyinLondon，andIhaveseenlittleornothingofhim。

IhavesomeyearstopassoverbeforeIcanapproachtoanythinglikeaconclusionofthisfragmentarynarrative。Andevenwhenthatlaterperiodisreached，thelittlethatIhavetosaywillnotoccupyyourattentionformorethanafewminutes。

Onerainyautumnevening，whileIwasstillpracticingasacountrydoctor，Iwassittingalone，thinkingoveracasethenundermycharge，whichsorelyperplexedme，whenIheardalowknockatthedoorofmyroom。

"Comein，"Icried，lookingupcuriouslytoseewhowantedme。

Afteramomentarydelay，thelockmoved，andalong，white，bonyhandstoleroundthedoorasitopened，gentlypushingitoverafoldinthecarpetwhichhindereditfromworkingfreelyonthehinges。Thehandwasfollowedbyamanwhosefaceinstantlystruckmewithaverystrangesensation。Therewassomethingfamiliartomeinthelookofhim，andyetitwasalsosomethingthatsuggestedtheideaofchange。

Hequietlyintroducedhimselfas"Mr。Lorn，"presentedtomesomeexcellentprofessionalrecommendations，andproposedtofilltheplace，thenvacant，ofmyassistant。WhilehewasspeakingI

noticeditassingularthatwedidnotappeartobemeetingeachotherlikestrangers，andthat，whileIwascertainlystartledatseeinghim，hedidnotappeartobeatallstartledatseeingme。

ItwasonthetipofmytonguetosaythatIthoughtIhadmetwithhimbefore。Buttherewassomethinginhisface，andsomethinginmyownrecollections——Icanhardlysaywhat——whichunaccountablyrestrainedmefromspeakingandwhichasunaccountablyattractedmetohimatonce，andmademefeelreadyandgladtoaccepthisproposal。

Hetookhisassistant’splaceonthatveryday。Wegotontogetherasifwehadbeenoldfriendsfromthefirst；but，throughoutthewholetimeofhisresidenceinmyhouse，henevervolunteeredanyconfidencesonthesubjectofhispastlife，andIneverapproachedtheforbiddentopicexceptbyhints，whichheresolutelyrefusedtounderstand。

IhadlonghadanotionthatmypatientattheinnmighthavebeenanaturalsonoftheelderMr。Holliday’s，andthathemightalsohavebeenthemanwhowasengagedtoArthur’sfirstwife。

Andnowanotherideaoccurredtome，thatMr。Lornwastheonlypersoninexistencewhocould，ifhechose，enlightenmeonboththosedoubtfulpoints。Butheneverdidchoose，andIwasneverenlightened。HeremainedwithmetillIremovedtoLondontotrymyfortunethereasaphysicianforthesecondtime，andthenhewenthiswayandIwentmine，andwehaveneverseenoneanothersince。

Icanaddnomore。Imayhavebeenrightinmysuspicion，orI

mayhavebeenwrong。AllIknowisthat，inthosedaysofmycountrypractice，whenIcamehomelate，andfoundmyassistantasleep，andwokehim，heusedtolook，incomingto，wonderfullylikethestrangeratDoncasterasheraisedhimselfinthebedonthatmemorablenight。

THESIXTHDAY

ANoppressivelymildtemperature，andsteady，soft，settledrain——dismalweatherforidlepeopleinthecountry。MissJessie，afterlookinglonginglyoutofthewindow，resignedherselftocircumstances，andgaveupallhopeofaride。Thegardener，theconservatory，therabbits，theraven，thehousekeeper，and，asalastresource，eventheneglectedpiano，werealllaidundercontributiontohelpherthroughthetime。Itwasalongday，butthankstoherowntalentfortrifling，shecontrivedtooccupyitpleasantlyenough。

Stillnonewsofmyson。Thetimewasgettingonnow，anditwassurelynotunreasonabletolookforsometidingsofhim。

To—dayMorganandIbothfinishedourthirdandlaststories。I

correctedmybrother’scontributionwithnoverygreatdifficultyonthisoccasion，andnumbereditNine。Myownstorycamenext，andwasthusaccidentallydistinguishedasthelastoftheseries——NumberTen。WhenIdroppedthetwocorrespondingcardsintothebowl，thethoughtthattherewouldbenownomoretoaddseemedtoquickenmyprevailingsenseofanxietyonthesubjectofGeorge’sreturn。Aheavydepressionhunguponmyspirits，andIwentoutdesperatelyintheraintoshakemymindfreeofoppressinginfluencesbydintofhardbodilyexercise。

ThenumberdrawnthiseveningwasThree。Ontheproductionofthecorrespondingmanuscriptitprovedtobemyturntoreadagain。

"Icanpromiseyoualittlevarietyto—night，"Isaid，addressingourfairguest，"ifIcanpromisenothingelse。ThistimeitisnotastoryofmyownwritingthatIamabouttoread，butacopyofaverycuriouscorrespondencewhichIfoundamongmyprofessionalpapers。"

Jessie’scountenancefell。"Istherenostoryinit？"sheasked，ratherdiscontentedly。

"Certainlythereisastoryinit，"Ireplied——"astoryofamuchlighterkindthananywehaveyetread，andwhichmay，onthataccount，proveacceptable，bywayofcontrastandrelief，evenifitfailstoattractyoubyothermeans。Iobtainedtheoriginalcorrespondence，Imusttellyou，fromtheofficeoftheDetectivePoliceofLondon。"

Jessie’sfacebrightened。"Thatpromisessomethingtobeginwith，"shesaid。

"Someyearssince，"Icontinued，"therewasadesireatheadquarterstoincreasethenumbersandefficiencyoftheDetectivePolice，andIhadthehonorofbeingoneofthepersonsprivatelyconsultedonthatoccasion。Thechiefobstacletotheplanproposedlayinthedifficultyoffindingnewrecruits。TheordinaryrankandfileofthepoliceofLondonaresober，trustworthy，andcourageousmen，butasabodytheyaresadlywantinginintelligence。Knowingthis，theauthoritiestookintoconsiderationascheme，whichlookedplausibleenoughonpaper，foravailingthemselvesoftheservicesofthatproverbiallysharpclassofmen，theexperiencedclerksinattorney’soffices。

Amongthepersonswhoseadvicewassoughtonthispoint，Iwastheonlyonewhodissentedfromthearrangementproposed。Ifeltcertainthatthereallyexperiencedclerksintrustedwithconductingprivateinvestigationsandhuntinguplostevidence，weretoowellpaidandtooindependentlysituatedintheirvariousofficestocareaboutenteringtheranksoftheDetectivePolice，andsubmittingthemselvestotherigiddisciplineofScotlandYard，andIventuredtopredictthattheinferiorclerksonly，whosediscretionwasnottobetrusted，wouldprovetobethemenwhovolunteeredfordetectiveemployment。Myadvicewasnottakenandtheexperimentofenlistingtheclerkswastriedintwoorthreecases。Iwasnaturallyinterestedintheresult，andinduecourseoftimeIappliedforinformationintherightquarter。Inreply，theoriginalsofthelettersofwhichIamnowabouttoreadthecopiesweresenttome，withanintimationthatthecorrespondenceinthisparticularinstanceofferedafairspecimenoftheresultsoftheexperimentintheothercases。Thelettersamusedme，andIobtainedpermissiontocopythembeforeIsentthemback。Youwillnowhear，therefore，byhisownstatement，howacertainattorney’sclerksucceededinconductingaverydelicateinvestigation，andhowtheregularmembersoftheDetectivePolicecontrivedtohelphimthroughhisfirstexperiment。"

BROTHERGRIFFITH’SSTORY

ofTHEBITERBIT。

_ExtractedfromtheCorrespondenceoftheLondonPolice_。

FROMCHIEFINSPECTORTHEAKSTONE，OFTHEDETECTIVEPOLICE，TO

SERGEANTBULMER，OFTHESAMEFORCE。

London，4thJuly，18——。

SERGEANTBULMER——Thisistoinformyouthatyouarewantedtoassistinlookingupacaseofimportance，whichwillrequirealltheattentionofanexperiencedmemberoftheforce。Thematteroftherobberyonwhichyouarenowengagedyouwillpleasetoshiftovertotheyoungmanwhobringsyouthisletter。Youwilltellhimallthecircumstancesofthecase，justastheystand；

youwillputhimuptotheprogressyouhavemade（ifany）towarddetectingthepersonorpersonsbywhomthemoneyhasbeenstolen；andyouwillleavehimtomakethebesthecanofthematternowinyourhands。Heistohavethewholeresponsibilityofthecase，andthewholecreditofhissuccessifhebringsittoaproperissue。

SomuchfortheordersthatIamdesiredtocommunicatetoyou。

Awordinyourear，next，aboutthisnewmanwhoistotakeyourplace。HisnameisMatthewSharpin，andheistohavethechancegivenhimofdashingintoourofficeatonejump——supposingheturnsoutstrongenoughtotakeit。Youwillnaturallyaskmehowhecomesbythisprivilege。Icanonlytellyouthathehassomeuncommonlystronginteresttobackhimincertainhighquarters，whichyouandIhadbetternotmentionexceptunderourbreaths。

Hehasbeenalawyer’sclerk，andheiswonderfullyconceitedinhisopinionofhimself，aswellasmeanandunderhand，tolookat。Accordingtohisownaccount，heleaveshisoldtradeandjoinsoursofhisownfreewillandpreference。YouwillnomorebelievethatthanIdo。Mynotionis，thathehasmanagedtoferretoutsomeprivateinformationinconnectionwiththeaffairsofoneofhismaster’sclients，whichmakeshimratheranawkwardcustomertokeepintheofficeforthefuture，andwhich，atthesametime，giveshimholdenoughoverhisemployertomakeitdangeroustodrivehimintoacornerbyturninghimaway。I

thinkthegivinghimthisunheard—ofchanceamongusis，inplainwords，prettymuchlikegivinghimhushmoneytokeephimquiet。

Howeverthatmaybe，Mr。MatthewSharpinistohavethecasenowinyourhands，andifhesucceedswithithepokeshisuglynoseintoourofficeassureasfate。Iputyouuptothis，sergeant，sothatyoumaynotstandinyourownlightbygivingthenewmananycausetocomplainofyouatheadquarters，andremainyours，FRANCISTHEAKSTONE。

FROMMR。MATTHEWSHARPINTOCHIEFINSPECTORTHEAKSTONE。

London，5thJuly，18——。

DEARSIR——HavingnowbeenfavoredwiththenecessaryinstructionsfromSergeantBulmer，IbegtoremindyouofcertaindirectionswhichIhavereceivedrelatingtothereportofmyfutureproceedingswhichIamtoprepareforexaminationatheadquarters。

Theobjectofmywriting，andofyourexaminingwhatIhavewrittenbeforeyousendittothehigherauthorities，is，Iaminformed，togiveme，asanuntriedhand，thebenefitofyouradviceincaseIwantit（whichIventuretothinkIshallnot）

atanystageofmyproceedings。AstheextraordinarycircumstancesofthecaseonwhichIamnowengagedmakeitimpossibleformetoabsentmyselffromtheplacewheretherobberywascommitteduntilIhavemadesomeprogresstowarddiscoveringthethief，Iamnecessarilyprecludedfromconsultingyoupersonally。Hencethenecessityofmywritingdownthevariousdetails，whichmightperhapsbebettercommunicatedbywordofmouth。This，ifIamnotmistaken，isthepositioninwhichwearenowplaced。Istatemyownimpressionsonthesubjectinwriting，inorderthatwemayclearlyunderstandeachotherattheoutset；andhavethehonortoremainyourobedientservant，MATTHEWSHARPIN。

FROMCHIEFINSPECTORTHEAKSTONETOMR。MATTHEWSHARPIN。

London，5thJuly，18——。

SIR——Youhavebegunbywastingtime，ink，andpaper。WebothofusperfectlywellknewthepositionwestoodintowardeachotherwhenIsentyouwithmylettertoSergeantBulmer。Therewasnottheleastneedtorepeatitinwriting。Besogoodastoemployyourpeninfutureonthebusinessactuallyinhand。

Youhavenowthreeseparatemattersonwhichtowriteme。First，youhavetodrawupastatementofyourinstructionsreceivedfromSergeantBulmer，inordertoshowusthatnothinghasescapedyourmemory，andthatyouarethoroughlyacquaintedwithallthecircumstancesofthecasewhichhasbeenintrustedtoyou。Secondly，youaretoinformmewhatitisyouproposetodo。

Thirdly，youaretoreporteveryinchofyourprogress（ifyoumakeany）fromdaytoday，and，ifneedbe，fromhourtohouraswell。Thisis_your_duty。Astowhat_my_dutymaybe，whenI

wantyoutoremindmeofit，Iwillwriteandtellyouso。Inthemeantime，Iremainyours，FRANCISTHEAKSTONE。