A telegram requests a consultation in a murder case. Holmes is reluctant to help because credit would go entirely to the officials, but Watson urges him to reconsider, and, at Holmes' suggestion, accompanies him to the crime scene, an abandoned house. Holmes observes the pavement and garden leading up to the house before he and Watson meet Inspectors Gregson and Lestrade. The male corpse is identified as a wealthy man named Enoch Drebber. They also learn from documents found on his person that he was in London with his secretary, Joseph Stangerson. On one wall, written in red, is "RACHE". Holmes remarks that it is the German word for "revenge". He deduces that the victim died from poison and supplies a description of the murderer. Holmes says "RACHE" was a ploy to fool the police. Upon moving Drebber's body, they discover a woman's gold wedding ring.