We knew what to do--and
we went fully prepared.
"Now we come to this--our second visit to the house in Maida Vale. To be
exact, it was between eleven and twelve on the second night after the
disappearance of the diamond. As on the previous night, we gained access
to the garden by the door at the back--that, on each occasion, was
unfastened, while the gate giving access to the road in Maida Vale was
securely locked. And, as on the previous night, we quickly found that up
to then at any rate, the house was empty. But not so the garden! While I
was looking round the further side of the house, Purvis took a careful
look round the garden. And presently he came to me and drew away to the
asphalted path which runs from the front gate to the front door. The moon
had risen above the houses and trees--and in its light he pointed to
bloodstains. It did not take a second look, gentlemen, to see that they
were recent--in fact, fresh. Somebody had been murdered in that garden not
many minutes--literally, minutes!--before our arrival. And within two
minutes more we found the murdered man lying behind some shrubbery on the
left of the path.
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