Part 19

“But this was only theory. It had to be tested; and as we had Elliott’s address, I did the only thing that was possible. I employed our friend, ex-sergeant Barber, to watch the house. He took lodgings in a house nearly opposite and kept up continuous observation, which soon convinced him that there was someone on the premises besides Mrs. Elliott. Then, late one night, he saw a man come out and walk away quickly. He followed the man for some distance, until the stranger turned back and began to retrace his steps. Then Barber accosted him, asking for a direction, and carefully inspecting him. The man’s appearance tallied exactly with the description that I had given--I had assumed that he would probably shave off his beard--and with the photograph; so Barber, having seen him home, reported to me. And that is the whole story.”

“Not quite the whole,” said Miller, with a sly grin. “There is that smoke-rocket. If it hadn’t been for the practical joker who slipped that through the letter-slit, we could never have got into that house. I call it a most remarkable coincidence.”

“So do I,” Thorndyke agreed, without moving a muscle; “but there is a special providence that watches over medical jurists.”

We were silent for a few moments. Then I remarked:

“This will come as a terrible shock to Mrs. Manford.”

“I am afraid it will,” Thorndyke agreed. “But it will be better for her than if Manford had absconded with this woman, taking practically every penny that he possessed with him. She stood to lose a worthless husband in either event. At least we have saved her from poverty. And, knowing the facts, we were morally and legally bound to further the execution of justice.”

“A very proper sentiment,” said the superintendent, “though I am not quite clear as to the legal aspects of that smoke-rocket.”

THE END

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

The edition hosted on Fadedpage was consulted for most of the changes listed below.

Minor spelling inconsistencies (e.g. notepaper/note-paper, tattoed/tattooed, writing-table/writing table, etc.) have been preserved.

Alterations to the text:

Punctuation: fix some quotation mark pairings, and a few missing periods and commas.

[I. THE MAGIC CASKET]

Change “we heard his brisk _step_ on the stairs” to _steps_.

[II. THE CONTENTS OF A MARE’S NEST]

“and I suppose that to a toxicologist, there is nothing like an” delete the comma.

“Yet teeth are far more _resistent_ to fire than bones” to _resistant_.

[III. THE STALKING HORSE]

“I am starting for Folkestone in _re_ Burnham deceased.” italicize _in_.

“but do not _re-act_ in this way on cellulose paper” to _react_.

[IV. THE NATURALIST AT LAW]

“Who had a motive for killing Cyrus Pedley? and Who had the opportunity and the means.” change the period to a question mark.

[V. MR. PONTING’S ALIBI]

“But since the trouble about the will, he is hardly on speaking terms with them?” change the question mark to a period.

[VI. PANDORA’S BOX]

“opening it and opening _another’s_ man’s box” to _another_.

[VII. THE TRAIL OF BEHEMOTH]

“I became aware of quick footsteps descending the _staris_ behind us” to _stairs_.

[VIII. THE PATHOLOGIST TO THE RESCUE]

Change “is in the custody of the robbery and no murder.” to “is in the custody of the police, charged with robbery and murder.”

(“Yes,” Thorndyke replied. “I am in a position to give important and material evidence?”) change the question mark to a period.

“I get back to de ship jus’ before dey ring two bells in _the_ middle watch.” to _de_.

[IX. GLEANINGS FROM THE WRECKAGE]

“in the palm, just between the roots of the third and fourth _finger_” to _fingers_.

“in a full beard and moustache, both apparently jet-_back_” to _black_.

[End of text]