confess it all。 It was I who killed the young man。 But you are
right… you who say it was an accident。 I did not even know that it was
a knife which I held in my hand； for in my despair I snatched anything
from the table and struck at him to make him let me go。 It is the
truth that I tell。〃
〃Madam；〃 said Holmes； 〃I am sure that it is the truth。 I fear that
you are far from well。〃
She had turned a dreadful colour； the more ghastly under the dark
dust…streaks upon her face。 She seated herself on the side of the bed；
then she resumed。
〃I have only a little time here；〃 she said； 〃but I would have you to
know the whole truth。 I am this man's wife。 He is not an Englishman。
He is a Russian。 His name I will not tell。〃
For the first time the old man stirred。 〃God bless you； Anna！〃 he
cried。 〃God bless you！〃
She cast a look of the deepest disdain in his direction。 〃Why should
you cling so hard to that wretched life of yours； Sergius？〃 said
she。 〃It has done harm to many and good to none… not even to yourself。
However； it is not for me to cause the frail thread to be snapped
before God's time。 I have enough already upon my soul since I
crossed the threshold of this cursed house。 But I must speak or I
shall be too late。
〃I have said； gentlemen； that I am this man's wife。 He was fifty and
I a foolish girl of twenty when we married。 It was in a city of
Russia； a university… I will not name the place。〃
〃God bless you； Anna！〃 murmured the old man again。
〃We were reformers… revolutionists… Nihilists； you understand。 He
and I and many more。 Then there came a time of trouble； a police
officer was killed； many were arrested； evidence was wanted； and in
order to save his own life and to earn a great reward； my husband
betrayed his own wife and his companions。 Yes； we were all arrested
upon his confession。 Some of us found our way to the gallows； and some
to Siberia。 I was among these last； but my term was not for life。 My
husband came to England with his ill…gotten gains and has lived in
quiet ever since； knowing well that if the Brotherhood knew where he
was not a week would pass before justice would be done。〃
The old man reached out a trembling hand and helped himself to a
cigarette。 〃I am in your hands； Anna；〃 said he。 〃You were always
good to me。〃
〃I have not yet told you the height of his villainy；〃 said she。
〃Among our comrades of the Order； there was one who was the friend
of my heart。 He was noble； unselfish； loving… all that my husband
was not。 He hated violence。 We were all guilty… if that is guilt…
but he was not。 He wrote forever dissuading us from such a course。
These letters would have saved him。 So would my diary； in which；
from day to day； I had entered both my feelings towards him and the
view which each of us had taken。 My husband found and kept both
diary and letters。 He hid them； and he tried hard to swear away the
young man's life。 In this he failed； but Alexis was sent a convict
to Siberia； where now； at this moment； he works in a salt mine。
Think of that； you villain； you villain！… now； now； at this very
moment； Alexis； a man whose name you are not worthy to speak； works
and lives like a slave； and yet I have your life in my hands； and I
let you go。〃
〃You were always a noble woman； Anna；〃 said the old man； puffing
at his cigarette。
She had risen； but she fell back again with a little cry of pain。
〃I must finish；〃 she said。 〃When my term was over I set myself to
get the diary and letters which； if sent to the Russian government；
would procure my friend's release。 I knew that my husband had come
to England。 After months of searching I discovered where he was。 I
knew that he still had the diary； for when I was in Siberia I had a
letter from him once； reproaching me and quoting some passages from
its pages。 Yet I was sure that； with his revengeful nature； he would
never give it to me of his own free…will。 I must get it for myself。
With this object I engaged an agent from a private detective firm； who
entered my husband's house as a secretary… it was your second
secretary； Sergius； the one who left you so hurriedly。 He found that
papers were kept in the cupboard； and he got an impression of the key。
He would not go farther。 He furnished me with a plan of the house； and
he told me that in the forenoon the study was always empty； as the
secretary was employed up here。 So at last I took my courage in both
hands； and I came down to get the papers for myself。 I succeeded；
but at what a cost！
〃I had just taken the paper； and was locking the cupboard； when
the young man seized me。 I had seen him already that morning。 He had
met me on the road； and I had asked him to tell me where Professor
Coram lived； not knowing that he was in his employ。〃
〃Exactly！ Exactly！〃 said Holmes。 〃The secretary came back； and
told his employer of the woman he had met。 Then； in his last breath；
he tried to send a message that it was she… the she whom he had just
discussed with him。〃
〃You must let me speak；〃 said the woman； in an imperative voice； and
her face contracted as if in pain。 〃When he had fallen I rushed from
the room； chose the wrong door； and found myself in my husband's room。
He spoke of giving me up。 I showed him that if he did so； his life was
in my hands。 If he gave me to the law； I could give him to the
Brotherhood。 It was not that I wished to live for my own sake； but
it was that I desired to accomplish my purpose。 He knew that I would
do what I said… that his own fate was involved in mine。 For that
reason； and for no other； he shielded me。 He thrust me into that
dark hiding…place… a relic of old days； known only to himself。 He took
his meals in his own room； and so was able to give me part of his
food。 It was agreed that when the police left the house I should
slip away by night and come back no more。 But in some way you have
read our plans。〃 She tore from the bosom of her dress a small
packet。 〃These are my last words；〃 said she； 〃here is the packet which
will save Alexis。 I confide it to your honour and to your love of
justice。 Take it！ You will deliver it at the Russian Embassy。 Now； I
have done my duty； and…〃
〃Stop her！〃 cried Holmes。 He had bounded across the room and had
wrenched a small phial from her hand。
〃Too late！〃 she said； sinking back on the bed。 〃Too late！ I took the
poison before I left my hiding…place。 My head swims！ I am going！ I
charge you； sir； to remember the packet。〃
〃A simple case； and yet； in some ways； an instructive one；〃 Holmes
remarked； as we travelled back to town。 〃It hinged from the outset
upon the pince…nez。 But for the fortunate chance of the dying man
having seized these； I am not sure that we could ever have reached our
solution。 It was clear to me； from the strength of the glasses； that
the wearer must have been very blind and helpless when deprived of
them。 When you asked me to believe that she walked along a narrow
strip of grass without once making a false step； I remarked； as you
may remember； that it was a noteworthy performance。 In my mind I set
it down as an impossible performance； save in the unlikely case that
she had a second pair of glasses。 I was forced； therefore； to consider
seriously the hypothesis that she had remained within the house。 On
perceiving the similarity of the two corridors； it became clear that
she might very easily have made such a mistake； and； in that case；
it was evident that she must have entered the professor's room。 I
was keenly on the alert； therefore； for whatever would bear out this
supposition； and I examined the room narrowly for anything in the
shape of a hiding…place。 The carpet seemed continuous and firmly
nailed； so I dismissed the idea of a trap…door。 There might well be
a recess behind the books。 As you are aware； such devices are common
in old libraries。 I observed that books were piled on the floor at all
other points； but that one bookcase was left clear。 This； then；
might be the door。 I could see no marks to guide me； but the carpet
was of a dun colour； which lends itself very well to examination。 I
therefore smoked a great number of those excellent cigarettes； and I
dropped the ash all over the space in front of the suspected bookcase。
It was a simple trick； but exceedingly effective。 I then went
downstairs； and I ascertained； in your presence； Watson； without
your perceiving the drift of my remarks； that Professor Coram's
consumption of food had increased… as one would expect when he is
supplying a second person。 We then ascended to the room again； when；
by upsetting the cigarette…box； I obtained a very excellent view of
the floor； and was able to see quite clearly； from the traces upon the
cigarette ash； that the prisoner had in our absence come out from
her retreat。 Well； Hopkins； here we are at Charing Cross； and I
congratulate you on having brought your case to a successful
conclusion。 You are going to headquarters； no doubt。 I think；
Watson； you and I will drive together to the Russian Embassy。〃
…THE END…
。