The Conclusion.

           WehadallbeenwarnedtoappearbeforethemagistratesupontheThursday;butwhentheThursdaycametherewasnooccasionforourtestimony. AhigherJudgehadtakenthematterinhand,andJeffersonHopehadbeensummonedbeforeatribunalwherestrictjusticewouldbemetedouttohim. Ontheverynightafterhiscapturetheaneurismburst,andhewasfoundinthemorningstretcheduponthefloorofthecell,withaplacidsmileuponhisface,asthoughhehadbeenableinhisdyingmomentstolookbackuponausefullife,andonworkwelldone. 

           “GregsonandLestradewillbewildabouthisdeath,”Holmesremarked,aswechatteditovernextevening. “Wherewilltheirgrandadvertisementbenow?” 

           “Idon’tseethattheyhadverymuchtodowithhiscapture,”Ianswered. 

           “Whatyoudointhisworldisamatterofnoconsequence,”returnedmycompanion,bitterly. “Thequestionis,whatcanyoumakepeoplebelievethatyouhavedone. Nevermind,”hecontinued,morebrightly,afterapause. “Iwouldnothavemissedtheinvestigationforanything. Therehasbeennobettercasewithinmyrecollection. Simpleasitwas,therewereseveralmostinstructivepointsaboutit.” 

           “Simple!”Iejaculated. 

           “Well,really,itcanhardlybedescribedasotherwise,”saidSherlockHolmes,smilingatmysurprise. “Theproofofitsintrinsicsimplicityis,thatwithoutanyhelpsaveafewveryordinarydeductionsIwasabletolaymyhanduponthecriminalwithinthreedays.” 

           “Thatistrue,”saidI.