It will
ring in my ears as long as I live. I sat frozen with horror for
a minute or two. Then I seized the poker and went downstairs.
When I entered this room I found the window wide open, and I at
once observed that the bust was gone from the mantelpiece.
Why any burglar should take such a thing passes my understanding,
for it was only a plaster cast and of no real value whatever.
"You can see for yourself that anyone going out through that
open window could reach the front doorstep by taking a long
stride. This was clearly what the burglar had done, so I went
round and opened the door. Stepping out into the dark I nearly
fell over a dead man who was lying there. I ran back for a
light, and there was the poor fellow, a great gash in his throat
and the whole place swimming in blood. He lay on his back, his
knees drawn up, and his mouth horribly open. I shall see him in
my dreams. I had just time to blow on my police-whistle, and
then I must have fainted, for I knew nothing more until I found
the policeman standing over me in the hall."
"Well, who was the murdered man?" asked Holmes.
"There's nothing to show who he was," said Lestrade.
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