What do you suppose was above the murdered man ?" I felt a creeping of the flesh, and a presentiment of coming horror, even before Sherlock Holmes answered.
"The word RACHE, written in letters of blood," he said.
"That was it," said Lestrade, in an awe-struck voice; and we were all silent for a while.
There was something so methodical and so incomprehensible about the deeds of this unknown assassin, that it imparted a fresh ghastliness to his crimes.

My nerves, which were steady enough on the field of battle tingled as I thought of it.
"The man was seen," continued Lestrade.

"A milk boy, passing on his way to the dairy, happened to walk down the lane which leads from the mews at the back of the hotel.

He noticed that a ladder, which usually lay there, was raised against one of the windows of the second floor, which was wide open.

After passing, he looked back and saw a man descend the ladder.