Этюд в багровых тонах
The Conclusion.
IttoldmethatDrebberhadalreadyappliedfortheprotectionofthelawagainstanoldrivalinlove,namedJeffersonHope,andthatthissameHopewasatpresentinEurope. IknewnowthatIheldthecluetothemysteryinmyhand,andallthatremainedwastosecurethemurderer.
“IhadalreadydeterminedinmyownmindthatthemanwhohadwalkedintothehousewithDrebber,wasnoneotherthanthemanwhohaddriventhecab. Themarksintheroadshowedmethatthehorsehadwanderedoninawaywhichwouldhavebeenimpossiblehadtherebeenanyoneinchargeofit. Where,then,couldthedriverbe,unlesshewereinsidethehouse? Again,itisabsurdtosupposethatanysanemanwouldcarryoutadeliberatecrimeundertheveryeyes,asitwere,ofathirdperson,whowassuretobetrayhim. Lastly,supposingonemanwishedtodoganotherthroughLondon,whatbettermeanscouldheadoptthantoturncabdriver. AlltheseconsiderationsledmetotheirresistibleconclusionthatJeffersonHopewastobefoundamongthejarveysoftheMetropolis.
“Ifhehadbeenonetherewasnoreasontobelievethathehadceasedtobe. Onthecontrary,fromhispointofview,anysuddenchangewouldbelikelytodrawattentiontohimself. Hewould,probably,foratimeatleast,continuetoperformhisduties. Therewasnoreasontosupposethathewasgoingunderanassumedname.
