A Study in Scarlet

43Our Advertisement Brings a Visitor“Excuse my using your name,” he said. “If I used my own some of these dunderheads would recognize it, and want to meddle in the aff air.”“Th at is all right,” I answered. “But supposing anyone applies, I have no ring.”“Oh yes, you have,” said he, handing me one. “Th is will do very well. It is almost a facsimile.”“And who do you expect will answer this advertisement.”“Why, the man in the brown coat—our fl orid friend with the square toes. If he does not come himself he will send an accom-plice.”“Would he not consider it as too dangerous?”“Not at all. If my view of the case is correct, and I have every reason to believe that it is, this man would rather risk anything than lose the ring. According to my notion he dropped it while stooping over Drebber’s body, and did not miss it at the time. Aft er leaving the house he discovered his loss and hurried back, but found the police already in possession, owing to his own folly in leaving the candle burning. He had to pretend to be drunk in order to allay the suspicions which might have been aroused by his appearance at the gate. Now put yourself in that man’s place. On thinking the matter over, it must have occurred to him that it was possible that he had lost the ring in the road aft er leaving the house. What would he do, then? He would eagerly look out for the evening papers in the hope of seeing it among the articles found. His eye, of course, would light upon this. He would be overjoyed. Why should he fear a trap? Th ere would be no reason in his eyes why the fi nding of the ring should be connected with the murder. He would come. He will come. You shall see him within an hour?”“And then?” I asked.“Oh, you can leave me to deal with him then. Have you any arms?”“I have my old service revolver and a few cartridges.”“You had better clean it and load it. He will be a desperate man, and though I shall take him unawares, it is as well to...