Sherlock Holmes

Now, he's a daring and desperate man.

He derives his income from his sister.

His sister's maid is his willing tool.

So far, we seem to be on fairly safe ground, do we not?

God didn't.

But he could not fly the country until he had realized his fortune.

And that fortune could only be realized by bringing off his whim the Shosken prince.

Therefore, if he had disposed of his sister, he would still have to stand his ground.

He would have to get rid of her body in some way.

With the maid as his confidant, that would not be impossible.

The body might be conveyed to the crypt, which is so seldom visited.

And it might later be secretly destroyed at night in the furnace, leaving behind it such evidence as we have seen.

What say you to that, Watson?

Well, it's all possible if you grant the original supposition.

But that's monstrous.

I think there's a small experiment which we might try tomorrow.

It may throw some light on the matter.

In the meantime, if we intend to keep up our characters, I suggest we call for a glass of wine and hold some high converse upon eels and bass and that sort of thing.

Oh, good morning, Mr. Barnes.

Well, I should have thought you'd have been away, dear, fishing long before this.