A Study in Scarlet

smiled in an affable manner, and expressed his hopes that he had not hurt any of us in the scuffle. "I guess you're going to take me to the police-sta

had bound round his ancles. 23 He rose and stretched his legs, as though to assure himself that they were free once more. I remember that I thought to myself, as I eyed him,

are the man for it," he said, gazing with undisguised admiration

with me," said Holmes

e you," sai

You too, Doctor, you have taken an interes

tination. We were ushered into a small chamber where a police Inspector noted down our prisoner's name and the names of the men with whose murder he had been charged. The official was a white-faced unemotional man, who went through his duties in a dull mech

r prisoner said slowly. "I want t

rve that for your trial

. It isn't suicide I am thinking of. Are you a Doctor?" He turn

am," I a

, with a smile, motioning with his

alls of his chest seemed to thrill and quiver as a frail building would do inside when some powerful engine was at

"you have an a

ssed. It has been getting worse for years. I got it from over-exposure and under-feeding among the Salt Lake Mountains. I've done my work now, and

d a hurried discussion as to the advisa

that there is immediate da

nly there is

to take his statement," said the Inspector. "You are at liberty, si

asily tired, and the tussle we had half an hour ago has not mended matters. I'm on the brink of the grave, and I am no

thodical manner, as though the events which he narrated were commonplace enough. I can vouch for the accuracy of the subjoined ac

e, forfeited their own lives. After the lapse of time that has passed since their crime, it was impossible for me to secure a conviction against them in any court. I knew of their g

st upon that very ring, and that his last thoughts should be of the crime for which he was punished. I have carried it about with me, and have followed him and his accomplice over two continents until I caught them. They thought to t

king, so I applied at a cabowner's office, and soon got employment. I was to bring a certain sum a week to the owner, and whatever was over that I might keep for myself. There was seldom much over, but I managed to scrape along somehow. The har

rding-house at Camberwell, over on the other side of the river. When once I found them out I knew that I had them at my mercy. I had grown my beard, and the

metimes on foot, but the former was the best, for then they could not get away from me. It was only early in the morning or late at night that I could

behind them every day, and never once saw them separate. Drebber himself was drunk half the time, but Stangerson was not to be caught napping. I watched them late and early, but never saw the gho

Liverpool train, and the guard answer that one had just gone and there would not be another for some hours. Stangerson seemed to be put out at that, but Drebber was rather pleased than otherwise. I got so close to them in the bustle that I could hear every word that passed between them. Drebber said that he had a little business of his own to do, and that if the other would wait for him he would soon rejoin him. His companion remonstrated with him, and reminded him that they had resolved to stick together. Drebber answered t

s him, and why retribution has come upon him. I had my plans arranged by which I should have the opportunity of making the man who had wronged me understand that his old sin had found him out. It chanced that some days before a gentleman who had been engaged in looking over some houses in the Brixton Road had dropped the key of one of them in my

I followed it so close that the nose of my horse was within a yard of his driver the whole way. We rattled across Waterloo Bridge and through miles of streets, until, to my astonishment, we found ourselves back in the Terrace in which he had boarded. I

e glass, and he

never seen before. This fellow had Drebber by the collar, and when they came to the head of the steps he gave him a shove and a kick which sent him half across the road. 'You hound,' he cried, shaking his stick at him; 'I'll teach you to insult an honest girl!' He was so ho

him right out into the country, and there in some deserted lane have my last interview with him. I had almost decided upon this, when he solved the problem for me. The craze for drink had seized him again, and he o

was lecturing on poisions, 25 and he showed his students some alkaloid, as he called it, which he had extracted from some South American arrow poison, and which was so powerful that the least grain meant instant death. I spotted the bottle in which this preparation was kept, and when they were all gone, I helped myself to a little of it. I was a fairly good dispenser, so I worked this alkaloid into small, soluble pills

longed for it during twenty long years, and then suddenly found it within your reach, you would understand my feelings. I lit a cigar, and puffed at it to steady my nerves, but my hands were trembling, and my temples throbbing with excitement. As I drove,

of the rain. When I looked in at the window, I found Drebber all huddled toge

ht, cabby

he garden. I had to walk beside him to keep him steady, for he was still a little top-heavy. When we came to the door, I opened i

y dark,' said he

a wax candle which I had brought with me. 'Now, Enoch Drebber,' I conti

. He staggered back with a livid face, and I saw the perspiration break out upon his brow, while his teeth chattered in his head. At the sight, I leaned my back aga

ither you or I shall never see to-morrow's sun rise.' He shrunk still further away as I spoke, and I could see on his face that he thought I was mad. So I was for th

face. 'Punishment has been slow in coming, but it has overtaken you at last.' I saw his coward l

murder me?'

at mercy had you upon my poor darling, when you dragged her from her sla

ho killed her fa

e high God judge between us. Choose and eat. There is death in one and life in the other. I shall

s to die. Shall I ever forget the look which came over his face when the first warning pangs told him that the poison was in his system? I laughed as I saw it, and held Lucy's marriage ring in front of his eyes. It was but for a moment, for the action of the alkal

ave done it. I guessed that what puzzled the New Yorkers would puzzle the Londoners, so I dipped my finger in my own blood and printed it on a convenient place on the wall. Then I walked down to my cab and found that there was nobody about, and that the night was still very wild. I had driven some distance when I put my hand into the pocket in which I usually kept Lucy's ring, and found that it was not there. I was thunderstruck at

ght he could keep me off by staying indoors he was very much mistaken. I soon found out which was the window of his bedroom, and early next morning I took advantage of some ladders which were lying in the lane behind the hotel, and so made my way into his room in the grey of the dawn. I woke him up and told him that the hour had come when he was to answer for the life he had taken so lon

d youngster asked if there was a cabby there called Jefferson Hope, and said that his cab was wanted by a gentleman at 221B, Baker Street. I went round, suspecting no harm, and the next thing I knew, this young man here had t

tives, blasé as they were in every detail of crime, appeared to be keenly interested in the man's story. When he finished we sat for some mi

more information," Sherlock Holmes said at last. "Who was

her people into trouble. I saw your advertisement, and I thought it might be a plant, or it might be

f that," said

fore the magistrates, and your attendance will be required. Until then I will be responsible for him." He rang the bell as he spoke, and J