Holmes and Watson head to see John Rance, the officer who found the body. Holmes claims the evidence from the crime scene has already provided him with enough information to figure out what happened, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure there’s nothing else to be learned. On the way, Holmes explains the observations he made and how he deduced the facts about the murderer he outlined to Gregson and Lestrade before they left. Watson is once again astonished, and compliments Holmes profusely for his brilliance.

Rance is sleeping when they arrive, but Holmes pays him a half-sovereign to tell his story. This cheers him up considerably, and he provides a detailed account. He noticed light coming from a house that was supposed to be abandoned and went to check on it. The streets were completely deserted, so he feared the place could be haunted by its previous tenant. Nevertheless, Rance eventually went inside and discovered the body. Holmes cuts him off here and claims he already knows what Rance did inside the house, having carefully studied the footprints and other markings in the rooms. Back outside, Rance encountered a drunk man leaning against the gate outside. He ignored the man, but the description of his physical features matches the suspect Holmes outlined to Gregson and Lestrade.