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Left to myself I cast a cursory glance over his shelves。 There were a
number of small glass jars containing earthy substances； labeled
〃Pavement and Road Sweepings；〃 from the principal thoroughfares and
suburbs of London； with the sub…directions 〃for identifying foot…tracks。〃
There were several other jars； labeled 〃Fluff from Omnibus and Road Car
Seats；〃 〃Cocoanut Fibre and Rope Strands from Mattings in Public
Places；〃 〃Cigarette Stumps and Match Ends from Floor of Palace Theatre；
Row A； 1 to 50。〃 Everywhere were evidences of this wonderful man's
system and perspicacity。
I was thus engaged when I heard the slight creaking of a door； and I
looked up as a stranger entered。 He was a rough…looking man； with a
shabby overcoat and a still more disreputable muffler around his throat
and the lower part of his face。 Considerably annoyed at his intrusion； I
turned upon him rather sharply； when； with a mumbled； growling apology
for mistaking the room； he shuffled out again and closed the door。 I
followed him quickly to the landing and saw that he disappeared down the
stairs。 With my mind full of the robbery； the incident made a singular
impression upon me。 I knew my friend's habit of hasty absences from his
room in his moments of deep inspiration； it was only too probable that；
with his powerful intellect and magnificent perceptive genius concentrated
on one subject； he should be careless of his own belongings； and no doubt
even forget to take the ordinary precaution of locking up his drawers。 I
tried one or two and found that I was right； although for some reason I was
unable to open one to its fullest extent。 The handles were sticky； as if
some one had opened them with dirty fingers。 Knowing Hemlock's
fastidious cleanliness； I resolved to inform him of this circumstance； but I
forgot it； alas！ untilbut I am anticipating my story。
His absence was strangely prolonged。 I at last seated myself by the
fire； and lulled by warmth and the patter of the rain on the window； I fell
asleep。 I may have dreamt； for during my sleep I had a vague semi…
consciousness as of hands being softly pressed on my pocketsno doubt
induced by the story of the robbery。 When I came fully to my senses； I
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found Hemlock Jones sitting on the other side of the hearth； his deeply
concentrated gaze fixed on the fire。
〃I found you so comfortably asleep that I could not bear to awaken
you；〃 he said； with a smile。
I rubbed my eyes。 〃And what news？〃 I asked。 〃How have you
succeeded？〃
〃Better than I expected；〃 he said； 〃and I think；〃 he added； tapping his
note…book； 〃I owe much to YOU。〃
Deeply gratified； I awaited more。 But in vain。 I ought to have
remembered that in his moods Hemlock Jones was reticence itself。 I told
him simply of the strange intrusion； but he only laughed。
Later； when I arose to go； he looked at me playfully。 〃If you were a
married man；〃 he said； 〃I would advise you not to go home until you had
brushed your sleeve。 There are a few short brown sealskin hairs on the
inner side of your forearm； just where they would have adhered if your
arm had encircled a seal…skin coat with some pressure！〃
〃For once you are at fault；〃 I said triumphantly； 〃the hair is my own； as
you will perceive； I have just had it cut at the hairdresser's； and no doubt
this arm projected beyond the apron。〃
He frowned slightly； yet； nevertheless； on my turning to go he
embraced me warmlya rare exhibition in that man of ice。 He even
helped me on with my overcoat and pulled out and smoothed down the
flaps of my pockets。 He was particular； too； in fitting my arm in my
overcoat sleeve； shaking the sleeve down from the armhole to the cuff
with his deft fingers。 〃Come again soon！〃 he said； clapping me on the
back。
〃At any and all times；〃 I said enthusiastically； 〃I only ask ten minutes
twice a day to eat a crust at my office； and four hours' sleep at night； and
the rest of my time is devoted to you always； as you know。〃
〃It is indeed；〃 he said； with his impenetrable smile。
Nevertheless； I did not find him at home when I next called。 One
afternoon； when nearing my own home； I met him in one of his favorite
disguises；a long blue swallow…tailed coat； striped cotton trousers； large
turn…over collar； blacked face； and white hat； carrying a tambourine。 Of
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course to others the disguise was perfect； although it was known to myself；
and I passed him according to an old understanding between uswithout
the slightest recognition； trusting to a later explanation。 At another time；
as I was making a professional visit to the wife of a publican at the East
End； I saw him； in the disguise of a broken…down artisan； looking into the
window of an adjacent pawnshop。 I was delighted to see that he was
evidently following my suggestions； and in my joy I ventured to tip him a
wink； it was abstractedly returned。
Two days later I received a note appointing a meeting at his lodgings
that night。 That meeting； alas！ was the one memorable occurrence of my
life； and the last meeting I ever had with Hemlock Jones！ I will try to set
it down calmly； though my pulses still throb with the recollection of it。
I found him standing before the fire； with that look upon his face
which I had seen only once or twice in our acquaintancea look which I
may call an absolute concatenation of inductive and deductive
ratiocinationfrom which all that was human； tender； or sympathetic was
absolutely discharged。 He was simply an icy algebraic symbol！ Indeed；
his whole being was concentrated to that extent that his clothes fitted
loosely； and his head was absolutely so much reduced in size by his mental
compression that his hat tipped back from his forehead and literally hung
on his massive ears。
After