Yet, on the other hand, I had myself seen the evidence, and I had heard the reasons for his deductions.

When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances, many of them trivial in themselves, but all tending in the same direction, I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling.
At three o'clock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell, an authoritative voice in the hall, and, to my surprise, no less a person than Mr.Athelney Jones was shown up to me.

Very different was he, however, from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood.

His expression was downcast, and his bearing meek and even apologetic.
"Good-day, sir; good-day," said he.

"Mr.Sherlock Holmes is out, I understand." "Yes, and I cannot be sure when he will be back.