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Ill tell it ye from the beginning, he said. My time is from ten at night to six in the morning. At eleven there was a fight at the White Hart; but bar that all was quiet enough on the beat. At one oclock it began to rain, and I met Harry Murcherhim who has the Holland Grove beatand we stood together at the corner of Henrietta Street a-talkin. Presentlymaybe about two or a little afterI thought I would take a look round and see that all was right down the Brixton Road. It was precious dirty and lonely. Not a soul did I meet all the way down, though a cab or two went past me. I was a-strollin down, thinkin between ourselves how uncommon handy a four of gin hot would be, when suddenly the glint of a light caught my eye in the window of that same house. Now, I knew that them two houses in Lauriston Gardens was empty on account of him that owns them who wont have the drains seed to, though the very last tenant what lived in one of them died o typhoid fever. I was knocked all in a heap, therefore, at seeing a light in the window, and I suspected as something was wrong. When I got to the door You stopped, and then walked back to the garden gate, my companion interrupted. What did you do that for? Rance gave a violent jump, and stared at Sherlock Holmes with the utmost amazement upon his features. Why, thats true, sir, he said; though how you come to know it, Heaven only knows. Ye see when I got up to the door, it was so still and so lonesome, that I thought Id be none the worse for someone with me. I aint afeared of anything on this side o the grave; but I thought that maybe it was him that died o the typhoid inspecting the drains what killed him. The thought gave me a kind o turn, and I walked back to the gate to see if I could see Murchers lantern, but there wasnt no sign of him nor of anyone else. There was no one in the street? Not a livin soul, sir, nor as much as a dog. Then I pulled myself together and went back and pushed the door open. All was quiet inside, so I went into the room where the light was a-burnin. There was a candle flickerin on the mantelpiecea red wax oneand by its light I saw Yes, I know all that you saw. You walked round the room several times, and you knelt down by the body, and then you walked through and tried the kitchen door, and then John Rance sprang to his feet with a frightened face and suspicion in his eyes. Where was you hid to see all that? he cried. It seems to me that you knows a deal more than you should. Holmes laughed and threw his card across the table to the constable. Dont go arresting me for the murder, he said. I am one of the hounds and not the wolf; Mr. Gregson or Mr. Lestrade will answer for that. Go on, though. What did you do next? Rance resumed his seat, without, however, losing his mystified expression. I went back to the gate and sounded my whistle. That brought Murcher and two more to the spot. Was the street empty then? Well, it was, as far as anybody that could be of any good goes. What do you mean? The constables features broadened into a grin. Ive seen many a drunk chap in my time, he said, but never anyone so cryin drunk as that cove. He was at the gate when I came out, a-leanin up agin the railings, and a-singin at the pitch o his lungs about Columbines New-fangled Banner, or some such stuff. He couldnt stand, far less help. What sort of a man was he? asked Sherlock Holmes. |
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