He swaggered up the path as if the place belonged to him, and we heard his loud, confident peal at the bell.
"I think, gentlemen," said Holmes, quietly, "that we had best take up our position behind the door.Every precaution is necessary when dealing with such a fellow.You will need your handcuffs, inspector.You can leave the talking to me."We waited in silence for a minute -- one of those minutes which one can never forget.Then the door opened and the man stepped in.In an instant Holmes clapped a pistol to his head and Martin slipped the handcuffs over his wrists.It was all done so swiftly and deftly that the fellow was helpless before he knew that he was attacked.He glared from one to the other of us with a pair of blazing black eyes.Then he burst into a bitter laugh.
"Well, gentlemen, you have the drop on me this time.I seem to have knocked up against something hard.But I came here in answer to a letter from Mrs.Hilton Cubitt.Don't tell me that she is in this? Don't tell me that she helped to set a trap for me?""Mrs.Hilton Cubitt was seriously injured and is at death's door."The man gave a hoarse cry of grief which rang through the house.
"You're crazy!" he cried, fiercely."It was he that was hurt, not she.Who would have hurt little Elsie? I may have threatened her, God forgive me, but I would not have touched a hair of her pretty head.Take it back -- you! Say that she is not hurt!""She was found badly wounded by the side of her dead husband."He sank with a deep groan on to the settee and buried his face in his manacled hands.For five minutes he was silent.Then he raised his face once more, and spoke with the cold composure of despair.
"I have nothing to hide from you, gentlemen," said he.