We must alter that answer at once." "If I were you, Mrs.Hornby," I said, "I would disregard this paper altogether.

It will only confuse you and get you into difficulties.
Answer the questions that are put, as well as you can, and if you don't remember, say so." "Yes, that will be much the wisest plan," said Juliet.

"Let Dr.Jervis take charge of the paper and rely on your own memory." "Very well, my dear," replied Mrs.Hornby, "I will do what you think best, and you can keep the paper, Dr.Jervis, or throw it away." I slipped the document into my pocket without remark, and we proceeded on our way, Mrs.Hornby babbling inconsequently, with occasional outbursts of emotion, and Juliet silent and abstracted.

I struggled to concentrate my attention on the elder lady's conversation, but my thoughts continually reverted to the paper in my pocket, and the startling solution that it seemed to offer of the mystery of the poisoned cigar.
Could it be that Walter Hornby was in reality the miscreant X?
The thing seemed incredible, for, hitherto, no shadow of suspicion had appeared to fall on him.

And yet there was no denying that his description tallied in a very remarkable manner with that of the hypothetical X.He was a man of some means and social position; he was a man of considerable knowledge and mechanical skill, though as to his ingenuity I could not judge.