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someone had entered the house cautiously from without。 I next examined
the corridor。 It is lined with cocoanut matting and had taken no
impression of any kind。 This brought me into the study itself。 It is a
scantily furnished room。 The main article is a large writing…table
with a fixed bureau。 This bureau consists of a double column of
drawers； with a central small cupboard between them。 The drawers
were open； the cupboard locked。 The drawers； it seems； were always
open； and nothing of value was kept in them。 There were some papers of
importance in the cupboard； but there were no signs that this had been
tampered with； and the professor assures me that nothing was
missing。 It is certain that no robbery has been committed。
〃I come now to the body of the young man。 It was found near the
bureau； and just to the left of it； as marked upon that chart。 The
stab was on the right side of the neck and from behind forward； so
that it is almost impossible that it could have been self…inflicted。〃
〃Unless he fell upon the knife；〃 said Holmes。
〃Exactly。 The idea crossed my mind。 But we found the knife some feet
away from the body； so that seems impossible。 Then； of course； there
are the man's own dying words。 And； finally； there was this very
important piece of evidence which was found clasped in the dead
man's right hand。〃
From his pocket Stanley Hopkins drew a small paper packet。 He
unfolded it and disclosed a golden pince…nez； with two broken ends
of black silk cord dangling from the end of it。 〃Willoughby Smith
had excellent sight；〃 he added。 〃There can be no question that this
was snatched from the face or the person of the assassin。〃
Sherlock Holmes took the glasses into his hand； and examined them
with the utmost attention and interest。 He held them on his nose；
endeavoured to read through them； went to the window and stared up the
street with them； looked at them most minutely in the full light of
the lamp； and finally； with a chuckle； seated himself at the table and
wrote a few lines upon a sheet of paper； which he tossed across to
Stanley Hopkins。
〃That's the best I can do for you；〃 said he。 〃It may prove to be
of some use。〃
The astonished detective read the note aloud。 It ran as follows：
〃Wanted； a woman of good address； attired like a lady。 She has a
remarkably thick nose； with eyes which are set close upon either
side of it。 She has a puckered forehead； a peering expression； and
probably rounded shoulders。 There are indications that she has had
recourse to an optician at least twice during the last few months。
As her glasses are of remarkable strength； and as opticians are not
very numerous； there should be no difficulty in tracing her。〃
Holmes smiled at the astonishment of Hopkins； which must have been
reflected upon my features。
〃Surely my deductions are simplicity itself；〃 said he。 〃It would be
difficult to name any articles which afford a finer field for
inference than a pair of glasses； especially so remarkable a pair as
these。 That they belong to a woman I infer from their delicacy； and
also； of course； from the last words of the dying man。 As to her being
a person of refinement and well dressed； they are； as you perceive；
handsomely mounted in solid gold； and it is inconceivable that
anyone who wore such glasses could be slatternly in other respects。
You will find that the clips are too wide for your nose； showing
that the lady's nose was very broad at the base。 This sort of nose
is usually a short and coarse one； but there is a sufficient number of
exceptions to prevent me from being dogmatic or from insisting upon
this point in my description。 My own face is a narrow one； and yet I
find that I cannot get my eyes into the centre； nor near the centre；
of these glasses。 Therefore； the lady's eyes are set very near to
the sides of the nose。 You will perceive； Watson； that the glasses are
concave and of unusual strength。 A lady whose vision has been so
extremely contracted all her life is sure to have the physical
characteristics of such vision； which are seen in the forehead； the
eyelids； and the shoulders。〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃I can follow each of your arguments。 I confess；
however； that I am unable to understand how you arrive at the double
visit to the optician。〃
Holmes took the glasses in his hand。
〃You will perceive；〃 he said； 〃that the clips are lined with tiny
bands of cork to soften the pressure upon the nose。 One of these is
discoloured and worn to some slight extent； but the other is new。
Evidently one has fallen off and been replaced。 I should judge that
the older of them has not been there more than a few months。 They
exactly correspond； so I gather that the lady went back to the same
establishment for the second。〃
〃By George； it's marvellous！〃 cried Hopkins； in an ecstasy of
admiration。 〃To think that I had all that evidence in my hand and
never knew it！ I had intended； however； to go the round of the
London opticians。〃
〃Of course you would。 Meanwhile； have you anything more to tell us
about the case？〃
〃Nothing； Mr。 Holmes。 I think that you know as much as I do now…
probably more。 We have had inquiries made as to any stranger seen on
the country roads or at the railway station。 We have heard of none。
What beats me is the utter want of all object in the crime。 Not a
ghost of a motive can anyone suggest。〃
〃Ah！ there I am not in a position to help you。 But I suppose you
want us to come out to…morrow？〃
〃If it is not asking too much； Mr。 Holmes。 There's a train from
Charing Cross to Chatham at six in the morning； and we should be at
Yoxley Old Place between eight and nine。〃
〃Then we shall take it。 Your case has certainly some features of
great interest； and I shall be delighted to look into it。 Well； it's
nearly one； and we had best get a few hours' sleep。 I daresay you
can manage all right on the sofa in front of the fire。 I'll light my
spirit lamp； and give you a cup of coffee before we start。〃
The gale had blown itself out next day； but it was a bitter
morning when we started upon our journey。 We saw the cold winter sun
rise over the dreary marshes of the Thames and the long； sudden
reaches of the river； which I shall ever associate with our pursuit of
the Andaman Islander in the earlier days of our career。 After a long
and weary journey； we alighted at a small station some miles from
Chatham。 While a horse was being put into a trap at the local inn；
we snatched a hurried breakfast； and so we were all ready for business
when we at last arrived at Yoxley Old Place。 A constable met us at the
garden gate。
〃Well； Wilson； any news？〃
〃No； sir… nothing。〃
〃No reports of any stranger seen？〃
〃No； sir。 Down at the station they are certain that no stranger
either came or went yesterday。〃
〃Have you had inquiries made at inns and lodgings？〃
〃Yes； sir： there is no one that we cannot account for。〃
〃Well； it's only a reasonable walk to Chatham。 Anyone might stay
there or take a train without being observed。 This is the garden
path of which I spoke； Mr