Now his practical Scotch intelligence brought him back with a snap to the matter in hand.
"He can keep, anyhow," said he.

"You've got us side-tracked with your interesting anecdotes, Mr.Holmes.What really counts is your remark that there is some connection between the professor and the crime.

That you get from the warning received through the man Porlock.

Can we for our present practical needs get any further than that ?" "We may form some conception as to the motives of the crime.

It is, as I gather from your original remarks, an inexplicable, or at least an unexplained, murder.