What did he do?
He sprang up on the mantelpiece, could not quite reach it,
put his knee on the bracket -- you will see the impression in the
dust -- and so got his knife to bear upon the cord. I could not
reach the place by at least three inches, from which I infer
that he is at least three inches a bigger man than I. Look at
that mark upon the seat of the oaken chair! What is it?"
"Blood."
"Undoubtedly it is blood. This alone puts the lady's story out
of court. If she were seated on the chair when the crime was
done, how comes that mark? No, no; she was placed in the chair
AFTER the death of her husband. I'll wager that the black dress
shows a corresponding mark to this. We have not yet met our
Waterloo, Watson, but this is our Marengo, for it begins in
defeat and ends in victory. I should like now to have a few
words with the nurse Theresa. We must be wary for awhile,
if we are to get the information which we want."
She was an interesting person, this stern Australian nurse.
Taciturn, suspicious, ungracious, it took some time before
Holmes's pleasant manner and frank acceptance of all that she
said thawed her into a corresponding amiability.
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