Every man's hand is against us, and yet the
interests at stake are colossal. Should I bring it to a
successful conclusion it will certainly represent the crowning
glory of my career. Ah, here is my latest from the front!"
He glanced hurriedly at the note which had been handed in.
"Halloa! Lestrade seems to have observed something of interest.
Put on your hat, Watson, and we will stroll down together to
Westminster."
It was my first visit to the scene of the crime -- a high, dingy,
narrow-chested house, prim, formal, and solid, like the century
which gave it birth. Lestrade's bulldog features gazed out at
us from the front window, and he greeted us warmly when a big
constable had opened the door and let us in. The room into
which we were shown was that in which the crime had been
committed, but no trace of it now remained, save an ugly,
irregular stain upon the carpet. This carpet was a small square
drugget in the centre of the room, surrounded by a broad expanse
of beautiful, old-fashioned wood-flooring in square blocks
highly polished. Over the fireplace was a magnificent trophy
of weapons, one of which had been used on that tragic night.
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