Sherlock Holmes Investigates

I was so horrified that I stayed sitting where I was for a minute or two. Then I took the poker and went downstairs. When I came to this room I saw that the window was wide open. At once I noticed that the bust was gone from the mantelpiece. I do not know why a burglar should take something like that. It was only a plaster cast and not worth any money.

"You can see that anyone who goes out of that open window is just one step away from the front doorstep. I could see that this was how the burglar had gone, so I went and opened the door. When I opened the door and stepped out into the dark, I nearly fell over a dead man, who was lying there. I ran back and got a light. Then I could see the poor fellow. There was a lage cut in his throat and everything was covered in blood. He was on his back with his knees pulled up, and his mouth horribly open. I shall see him in my dreams. I blew on my police-whistle, and then I must have fainted. The next thing I remember was the policeman standing over me in the hall."

"Well, who was the murdered man?" asked Holmes.