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On inquiry, I found that there was a steward on board of the name of James Browner and that he had acted during the voyage in such an extraordinary manner that the captain had been compelled to relieve him of his duties.

On descending to his berth, I found him seated upon a chest with his head sunk upon his hands, rocking himself to and fro.

He is a big, powerful chap, clean-shaven, and very swarthy - something like Aldridge, who helped us in the bogus laundry affair.

He jumped up when he heard my business, and I had my whistle to my lips to call a couple of river police, who were round the corner, but he seemed to have no heart in him, and he held out his hands quietly enough for the darbies.

We brought him along to the cells, and his box as well, for we thought there might be something incriminating; but, bar a big sharp knife such as most sailors have, we got nothing for our trouble.

However, we find that we shall want no more evidence, for on being brought before the inspector at the station he asked leave to make a statement, which was, of course, taken down, just as he made it, by our shorthand man.

We had three copies typewritten, one of which I enclose.

The affair proves, as I always thought it would, to be an extremely simple one, but I am obliged to you for assisting me in my investigation.

With kind regards,

"Yours very truly, "G. LESTRADE

"Hum! The investigation really was a very simple one," remarked Holmes, "but I don't think it struck him in that light when he first called us in.

However, let us see what Jim Browner has to say for himself.

This is his statement as made before Inspector Montgomery at the Shadwell Police Station, and it has the advantage of being verbatim."

" 'Have I anything to say? Yes, I have a deal to say.

I have to make a clean breast of it all.

You can hang me, or you can leave me alone.

I don't care a plug which you do.

I tell you I've not shut an eye in sleep since I did it, and I don't believe I ever will again until I get past all waking.

Sometimes it's his face, but most generally it's hers.

I'm never without one or the other before me.

He looks frowning and black-like, but she has a kind o' surprise upon her face.

Ay, the white lamb, she might well be surprised when she read death on a face that had seldom looked anything but love upon her before.

" 'But it was Sarah's fault, and may the curse of a broken man put a blight on her and set the blood rotting in her veins! It's not that I want to clear myself.

I know that I went back to drink, like the beast that I was.

But she would have forgiven me; she would have stuck as close to me as a rope to a block if that woman had never darkened our door.

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