I am not trying to explain it. I am just saying that this man might be acting strangely, but he is also being logical at the same time. For example, in Dr. Barnicot's house, a sound might wake up the family. So here the bust was taken outside before being broken. In the surgery, where there was less danger of someone hearing, it was smashed where it stood. I know none of this seems very important. However, I can't call anything unimportant because some of my most interesting cases have started in a very uninteresting way.
You will remember, Watson, how I first noticed the terrible business about the Abernetty family. It was because of how much the butter had melted during a hot day. So I'm not going to smile at your three broken busts, Lestrade, and I shall be very grateful to you if you will let me hear of any news about these remarkable events."
The development which my friend had asked for came more quickly and much more tragically than we thought it would. I was still dressing in my bedroom next morning when there was a knock at the door. Holmes came in with a message in his hand. He read the message aloud:
