The professor shook his head.

“Susan is a country girl,” said he, “and you know the incredible stupidity of that class.  I fancy that the poor fellow murmured some incoherent delirious words, and that she twisted them into this meaningless message.”

“I see.  You have no explanation yourself of the tragedy?”

“Possibly an accident, possibly—­I only breathe it among ourselves—­a suicide.  Young men have their hidden troubles—­some affair of the heart, perhaps, which we have never known.  It is a more probable supposition than murder.”

“But the eyeglasses?”

“Ah!  I am only a student—­a man of dreams.  I cannot explain the practical things of life.  But still, we are aware, my friend, that love-gages may take strange shapes.  By all means take another cigarette.  It is a pleasure to see anyone appreciate them so.  A fan, a glove, glasses—­who knows what article may be carried as a token or treasured when a man puts an end to his life?  This gentleman speaks of footsteps in the grass, but, after all, it is easy to be mistaken on such a point.  As to the knife, it might well be thrown far from the unfortunate man as he fell.  It is possible that I speak as a child, but to me it seems that Willoughby Smith has met his fate by his own hand.”

Holmes seemed struck by the theory thus put forward, and he continued to walk up and down for some time, lost in thought and consuming cigarette after cigarette.

“Tell me, Professor Coram,” he said, at last, “what is in that cupboard in the bureau?”

“Nothing that would help a thief.  Family papers, letters from my poor wife, diplomas of universities which have done me honour.  Here is the key.  You can look for yourself.”

Holmes picked up the key, and looked at it for an instant, then he handed it back.

“No, I hardly think that it would help me,” said he.  “I should prefer to go quietly down to your garden, and turn the whole matter over in my head.  There is something to be said for the theory of suicide which you have put forward.  We must apologize for having intruded upon you, Professor Coram, and I promise that we won’t disturb you until after lunch.  At two o’clock we will come again, and report to you anything which may have happened in the interval.”

Holmes was curiously distrait, and we walked up and down the garden path for some time in silence.

“Have you a clue?” I asked, at last.

“It depends upon those cigarettes that I smoked,” said he.  “It is possible that I am utterly mistaken.  The cigarettes will show me.”

“My dear Holmes,” I exclaimed, “how on earth——­”

“Well, well, you may see for yourself.  If not, there’s no harm done.  Of course, we always have the optician clue to fall back upon, but I take a short cut when I can get it.  Ah, here is the good Mrs. Marker!  Let us enjoy five minutes of instructive conversation with her.”