“Icanhardlythinkthatyouwouldfindmanydecentcitizenstoagreewithyou,”Ianswered. “Well,well,Imustnotbeselfish,”saidhe,withasmile,ashepushedbackhischairfromthebreakfast-table.“Thecommunityiscertainlythegainer,andnoonetheloser,savethepoorout-of-workspecialist,whoseoccupationhasgone.Withthatmaninthefield,one’smorningpaperpresentedinfinitepossibilities.Oftenitwasonlythesmallesttrace,Watson,thefaintestindication,andyetitwasenoughtotellmethatthegreatmalignantbrainwasthere,asthegentlesttremorsoftheedgesofthewebremindoneofthefoulspiderwhichlurksinthecentre.Pettythefts,wantonassaults,purposelessoutrage—tothemanwhoheldtheclueallcouldbeworkedintooneconnectedwhole.Tothescientificstudentofthehighercriminalworld,nocapitalinEuropeofferedtheadvantageswhichLondonthenpossessed.Butnow——”Heshruggedhisshouldersinhumorousdeprecationofthestateofthingswhichhehadhimselfdonesomuchtoproduce. AtthetimeofwhichIspeak,Holmeshadbeenbackforsomemonths,andIathisrequesthadsoldmypracticeandreturnedtosharetheoldquartersinBakerStreet.Ayoungdoctor,namedVerner,hadpurchasedmysmallKensingtonpractice,andgivenwithastonishinglylittledemurthehighestpricethatIventuredtoask—anincidentwhichonlyexplaineditselfsomeyearslater,whenIfoundthatVernerwasadistantrelationofHolmes,andthatitwasmyfriendwhohadreallyfoundthemoney. Ourmonthsofpartnershiphadnotbeensouneventfulashehadstated,forIfind,onlookingovermynotes,thatthisperiodincludesthecaseofthepapersofex-PresidentMurillo,andalsotheshockingaffairoftheDutchsteamshipFriesland,whichsonearlycostusbothourlives.Hiscoldandproudnaturewasalwaysaverse,however,fromanythingintheshapeofpublicapplause,andheboundmeinthemoststringenttermstosaynofurtherwordofhimself,hismethods,orhissuccesses—aprohibitionwhich,asIhaveexplained,hasonlynowbeenremoved. Mr.SherlockHolmeswasleaningbackinhischairafterhiswhimsicalprotest,andwasunfoldinghismorningpaperinaleisurelyfashion,whenourattentionwasarrestedbyatremendousringatthebell,followedimmediatelybyahollowdrummingsound,asifsomeonewerebeatingontheouterdoorwithhisfist.Asitopenedtherecameatumultuousrushintothehall,rapidfeetclatteredupthestair,andaninstantlaterawild-eyedandfranticyoungman,pale,disheveled,andpalpitating,burstintotheroom.Helookedfromonetotheotherofus,andunderourgazeofinquiryhebecameconsciousthatsomeapologywasneededforthisunceremoniousentry. “I’msorry,Mr.Holmes,”hecried.“Youmustn’tblameme.Iamnearlymad.Mr.Holmes,IamtheunhappyJohnHectorMcFarlane.” Hemadetheannouncementasifthenamealonewouldexplainbothhisvisitanditsmanner,butIcouldsee,bymycompanion’sunresponsiveface,thatitmeantnomoretohimthantome. “Haveacigarette,Mr.McFarlane,”saidhe,pushinghiscaseacross.“Iamsurethat,withyoursymptoms,myfriendDr.Watsonherewouldprescribeasedative.Theweatherhasbeensoverywarmtheselastfewdays.Now,ifyoufeelalittlemorecomposed,Ishouldbegladifyouwouldsitdowninthatchair,andtellusveryslowlyandquietlywhoyouare,andwhatitisthatyouwant.Youmentionedyourname,asifIshouldrecognizeit,butIassureyouthat,beyondtheobviousfactsthatyouareabachelor,asolicitor,aFreemason,andanasthmatic,Iknownothingwhateveraboutyou.” FamiliarasIwaswithmyfriend’smethods,itwasnotdifficultformetofollowhisdeductions,andtoobservetheuntidinessofattire,thesheafoflegalpapers,thewatch-charm,andthebreathingwhichhadpromptedthem.Ourclient,however,staredinamazement. “Yes,Iamallthat,Mr.Holmesand,inaddition,IamthemostunfortunatemanatthismomentinLondon.Forheaven’ssake,don’tabandonme,Mr.Holmes!IftheycometoarrestmebeforeIhavefinishedmystory,makethemgivemetime,sothatImaytellyouthewholetruth.IcouldgotojailhappyifIknewthatyouwereworkingformeoutside.”