That does not appear probable. No, no; I am sure
that I am right."
"What, then, do you suppose?"
"That only two glasses were used, and that the dregs of
both were poured into a third glass, so as to give the false
impression that three people had been here. In that way all
the bees-wing would be in the last glass, would it not? Yes,
I am convinced that this is so. But if I have hit upon the true
explanation of this one small phenomenon, then in an instant the
case rises from the commonplace to the exceedingly remarkable,
for it can only mean that Lady Brackenstall and her maid have
deliberately lied to us, that not one word of their story is to
be believed, that they have some very strong reason for covering
the real criminal, and that we must construct our case for
ourselves without any help from them. That is the mission which
now lies before us, and here, Watson, is the Chislehurst train."
The household of the Abbey Grange were much surprised at our
return, but Sherlock Holmes, finding that Stanley Hopkins had
gone off to report to head-quarters, took possession of the
dining-room, locked the door upon the inside, and devoted
himself for two hours to one of those minute and laborious
investigations which formed the solid basis on which his
brilliant edifices of deduction were reared.
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