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〃If you were to search all England；〃 said he； 〃I don't suppose you
could find a household more self…contained or freer from outside
influences。 Whole weeks would pass； and not one of them go past the
garden gate。 The professor was buried in his work and existed for
nothing else。 Young Smith knew nobody in the neighbourhood； and
lived very much as his employer did。 The two women had nothing to take
them from the house。 Mortimer； the gardener； who wheels the Bath
chair； is an army pensioner… an old Crimean man of excellent
character。 He does not live in the house； but in a three…roomed
cottage at the other end of the garden。 Those are the only people that
you would find within the grounds of Yoxley Old Place。 At the same
time； the gate of the garden is a hundred yards from the main London
to Chatham road。 It opens with a latch； and there is nothing to
prevent anyone from walking in。
〃Now I will give you the evidence of Susan Tarlton； who is the
only person who can say anything positive about the matter。 It was
in the forenoon； between eleven and twelve。 She was engaged at the
moment in hanging some curtains in the upstairs front bedroom。
Professor Coram was still in bed； for when the weather is bad he
seldom rises before midday。 The housekeeper was busied with some
work in the back of the house。 Willoughby Smith had been in his
bedroom； which he uses as a sitting…room； but the maid heard him at
that moment pass along the passage and descend to the study
immediately below her。 She did not see him； but she says that she
could not be mistaken in his quick； firm tread。 She did not hear the
study door close； but a minute or so later there was a dreadful cry in
the room below。 It was a wild； hoarse scream； so strange and unnatural
that it might have come either from a man or a woman。 At the same
instant there was a heavy thud； which shook the old house； and then
all was silence。 The maid stood petrified for a moment； and then；
recovering her courage； she ran downstairs。 The study door was shut
and she opened it。 Inside； young Mr。 Willoughby Smith was stretched
upon the floor。 At first she could see no injury； but as she tried
to raise him she saw that blood was pouring from the underside of
his neck。 It was pierced by a very small but very deep wound； which
had divided the carotid artery。 The instrument with which the injury
had been inflicted lay upon the carpet beside him。 It was one of those
small sealing…wax knives to be found on old…fashioned writing
tables； with an ivory handle and a stiff blade。 It was part of the
fittings of the professor's own desk。
〃At first the maid thought that young Smith was already dead； but on
pouring some water from the carafe over his forehead he opened his
eyes for an instant。 'The professor；' he murmured… 'it was she。' The
maid is prepared to swear that those were the exact words。 He tried
desperately to say something else； and he held his right hand up in
the air。 Then he fell back dead。
〃In the meantime the housekeeper had also arrived upon the scene；
but she was just too late to catch the young man's dying words。
Leaving Susan with the body； she hurried to the professors room。 He
was sitting up in bed； horribly agitated； for he had heard enough to
convince him that something terrible had occurred。 Mrs。 Marker is
prepared to swear that the professor was still in his night…clothes；
and indeed it was impossible for him to dress without the help of
Mortimer； whose orders were to come at twelve o'clock。 The professor
declares that he heard the distant cry； but that he knows nothing
more。 He can give no explanation of the young man's last words； 'The
professor… it was she；' but imagines that they were the outcome of
delirium。 He believes that Willoughby Smith had not an enemy in the
world； and can give no reason for the crime。 His first action was to
send Mortimer； the gardener； for the local police。 A little later
the chief constable sent for me。 Nothing was moved before I got there；
and strict orders were given that no one should walk upon the paths
leading to the house。 It was a splendid chance of putting your
theories into practice； Mr。 Sherlock Holmes。 There was really
nothing wanting。〃
〃Except Mr。 Sherlock Holmes；〃 said my companion； with a somewhat
bitter smile。 〃Well； let us hear about it。 What sort of a job did
you make of it？〃
〃I must ask you first； Mr。 Holmes； to glance at this rough plan；
which will give you a general idea of the position of the
professor's study and the various points of the case。 It will help you
in my investigation。〃
He unfolded the rough chart； which I here reproduce； and he laid
it across Holmes's knee。 I rose and； standing behind Holmes； studied
it over his shoulder。 （See illustration。）
〃It is very rough； of course； and it only deals with the points
which seem to me to be essential。 All the rest you will see later
for yourself。 Now； first of all； presuming that the assassin entered
the house； how did he or she come in？ Undoubtedly by the garden path
and the back door； from which there is direct access to the study。 Any
other way would have been exceedingly complicated。 The escape must
have also been made along that line； for of the two other exits from
the room one was blocked by Susan as she ran downstairs and the
other leads straight to the professor's bedroom。 I therefore
directed my attention at once to the garden path； which was
saturated with recent rain； and would certainly show any footmarks。
〃My examination showed me that I was dealing with a cautious and
expert criminal。 No footmarks were to be found on the path。 There
could be no question； however； that someone had passed along the grass
border which lines the path； and that he had done so in order to avoid
leaving a track。 I could not find anything in the nature of a distinct
impression； but the grass was trodden down； and someone had
undoubtedly passed。 It could only have been the murderer； since
neither the gardener nor anyone else had been there that morning；
and the rain had only begun during the night。〃
〃One moment；〃 said Holmes。 〃Where does this path lead to？〃
〃To the road。〃
〃How long is it？〃
〃A hundred yards or so。〃
〃At the point where the path passes through the gate； you could
surely pick up the tracks？〃
〃Unfortunately； the path was tiled at that point。〃
〃Well； on the road itself？〃
〃No； it was all trodden into mire。〃
〃Tut…tut！ Well； then； these tracks upon the grass； were they
coming or going？〃
〃It was impossible to say。 There was never any outline。〃
〃A large foot or a small？〃
〃You could not distinguish。〃
Holmes gave an ejaculation of impatience。
〃It has been pouring rain and blowing a hurricane ever since；〃
said be。 〃It will be harder to read now than that palimpsest。 Well；
well； it can't be helped。 What did you do； Hopkins； after you had made
certain that you had made certain of nothing？〃
〃I think I made certain of a good deal； Mr。 Holmes。 I knew that
someone had entered the house cautiously from without。 I next examined
th