advise　you　to　gain　at　least　the　small　credit　for　repentance　and　confession；　since　there　are　still　some　details　which　we　can　only　learn　from　your　lips。〃

The　man　groaned　and　sank　his　face　in　his　hands。 We　waited；　but　he　was　silent。

〃I　can　assure　you；〃　said　Holmes；　〃that　every　essential　is　already　known。 We　know　that　you　were　pressed　for　money；　that　you　took　an　impress　of　the　keys　which　your　brother　held；　and　that　you　entered　into　a　correspondence　with　Oberstein；　who　answered　your　letters　through　the　advertisement　columns　of　the　Daily　Telegraph。

We　are　aware　that　you　went　down　to　the　office　in　the　fog　on　Monday　night；　but　that　you　were　seen　and　followed　by　young　Cadogan　West；　who　had　probably　some　previous　reason　to　suspect　you。 He　saw　your　theft；　but　could　not　give　the　alarm；　as　it　was　just　possible　that　you　were　taking　the　papers　to　your　brother　in　London。

Leaving　all　his　private　concerns；　like　the　good　citizen　that　he　was；　he　followed　you　closely　in　the　fog　and　kept　at　your　heels　until　you　reached　this　very　house。 There　he　intervened；　and　then　it　was；　Colonel　Walter；　that　to　treason　you　added　the　more　terrible　crime　of　murder。〃

〃I　did　not！ I　did　not！ Before　God　I　swear　that　I　did　not！〃　cried　our　wretched　prisoner。

〃Tell　us；　then；　how　Cadogan　West　met　his　end　before　you　laid　him　upon　the　roof　of　a　railway　carriage。〃

〃I　will。 I　swear　to　you　that　I　will。 I　did　the　rest。 I　confess　it。 It　was　just　as　you　say。 A　Stock　Exchange　debt　had　to　be　paid。 I　needed　the　money　bad