Itwasempty。
Butitwasonlyforamomentthatwewereatfault。
Atonecorner，thecornernearesttheroomwhichwehadleft，therewasaseconddoor。Holmessprangtoitandpulleditopen。Acoatandwaistcoatwerelyingonthefloor，andfromahookbehindthedoor，withhisownbracesroundhisneck，washangingthemanagingdirectoroftheFranco-MidlandHardwareCompany。Hiskneesweredrawnup，hisheadhungatadreadfulangletohisbody，andtheclatterofhisheelsagainstthedoormadethenoisewhichhadbrokeninuponourconversation。InaninstantIhadcaughthimroundthewaist，andheldhimupwhileHolmesandPycroftuntiedtheelasticbandswhichhaddisappearedbetweenthelividcreasesofskin。Thenwecarriedhimintotheotherroom，wherehelaywithaclay-coloredface，puffinghispurplelipsinandoutwitheverybreath——adreadfulwreckofallthathehadbeenbutfiveminutesbefore。”Whatdoyouthinkofhim，Watson?”askedHolmes。
Istoopedoverhimandexaminedhim。Hispulewasfeebleandintermittent，buthisbreathinggrewlonger，andtherewasalittleshiveringofhiseyelids，whichshowedathinwhiteslitofballbeneath。”Ithasbeentouchandgowithhim，”saidI，”buthe’lllivenow。Justopenthatwindow，andhandmethewatercarafe。”Iundidhiscollar，pouredthecoldwateroverhisface，andraisedandsankhisarmsuntilhedrewalong，naturalbreath。”It’sonlyaquestionoftimenow，”saidI，asIturnedawayfromhim。
Holmesstoodbythetable，withhishandsdeepinhistrouser’spocketsandhischinuponhisbreast。”Isupposeweoughttocallthepoliceinnow，”saidhe。”AndyetIconfessthatI’dliketogivethemacompletecasewhentheycome。””It’sablessedmysterytome，”criedPycroft，scratchinghishead。”Whatevertheywantedtobringmeallthewayupherefor，andthen——””Pooh！Allthatisclearenough，”saidHolmesimpatiently。”Itisthislastsuddenmove。””Youunderstandtherest，then?””Ithinkthatitisfairlyobvious。Whatdoyousay，Watson?”