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always answered me like that。 My sister thinks that I am going
mad。 Sometimes I think that I am myself。 And nowand now I am
myself a branded thief； without ever having touched the wealth for
which I sold my character。 God help me！ God help me！〃 He burst
into convulsive sobbing； with his face buried in his hands。
There was a long silence； broken only by his heavy breathing；
and by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes's finger…tips upon
the edge of the table。 Then my friend rose and threw open the
door。
〃Get out！〃 said he。
〃What； sir！ Oh； Heaven bless you！〃
〃No more words。 Get out！〃
And no more words were needed。 There was a rush； a clatter
upon the stairs； the bang of a door； and the crisp rattle of
running footfalls from the street。
〃After all； Watson；〃 said Holmes； reaching up his hand for his
clay pipe； 〃I am not retained by the police to supply their
deficiencies。 If Horner were in danger it would be another thing；
but this fellow will not appear against him； and the case must
collapse。 I suppose that I am commuting a felony； but it is just
possible that I am saving a soul。 This fellow will not go wrong
again； he is too terribly frightened。 Send him to jail now； and
you make him a jail…bird for life。 Besides； it is the season of
forgiveness。 Chance has put in our way a most singular and
whimsical problem； and its solution is its own reward。 If you
will have the goodness to touch the bell； Doctor； we will begin
another investigation； in which； also a bird will be the chief
feature。〃
。