The thing was too evidently a blind.

When the ring was found, however, it settled the question.

Clearly the murderer had used it to remind his victim of some dead or absent woman.

It was at this point that I asked Gregson whether he had enquired in his telegram to Cleveland as to any particular point in Mr.Drebber's former career.

He answered, you remember, in the negative.
"I then proceeded to make a careful examination of the room, which confirmed me in my opinion as to the murderer's height, and furnished me with the additional details as to the Trichinopoly cigar and the length of his nails.