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against the sloping wall。 〃This is a trap…door which leads out on to the
roof。 I can press it back； and here is the roof itself； sloping at a gentle
angle。 This； then； is the way by which Number One entered。 Let us see
if we can find one other traces of his individuality。〃
He held down the lamp to the floor； and as he did so I saw for the
second time that night a startled； surprised look come over his face。 For
myself； as I followed his gaze my skin was cold under my clothes。 The
floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot；clear； well
defined； perfectly formed； but scarce half the size of those of an ordinary
man。
〃Holmes；〃 I said； in a whisper； 〃a child has done the horrid thing。〃
He had recovered his self…possession in an instant。 〃I was staggered
for the moment；〃 he said； 〃but the thing is quite natural。 My memory
failed me； or I should have been able to foretell it。 There is nothing more
to be learned here。 Let us go down。〃
〃What is your theory； then； as to those footmarks？〃 I asked； eagerly；
when we had regained the lower room once more。
〃My dear Watson； try a little analysis yourself；〃 said he； with a touch
of impatience。 〃You know my methods。 Apply them； and it will be
instructive to compare results。〃
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〃I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts；〃 I answered。
〃It will be clear enough to you soon；〃 he said； in an off…hand way。 〃I
think that there is nothing else of importance here； but I will look。〃 He
whipped out his lens and a tape measure； and hurried about the room on
his knees； measuring； comparing； examining； with his long thin nose only
a few inches from the planks； and his beady eyes gleaming and deep…set
like those of a bird。 So swift； silent； and furtive were his movements；
like those of a trained blood…hound picking out a scent； that I could not but
think what a terrible criminal he would have made had he turned his
energy and sagacity against the law； instead of exerting them in its defense。
As he hunted about； he kept muttering to himself； and finally he broke out
into a loud crow of delight。
〃We are certainly in luck；〃 said he。 〃We ought to have very little
trouble now。 Number One has had the misfortune to tread in the creosote。
You can see the outline of the edge of his small foot here at the side of this
evil…smelling mess。 The carboy has been cracked； You see； and the stuff
has leaked out。〃
〃What then？〃 I asked。
〃Why； we have got him； that's all；〃 said he。 〃I know a dog that would
follow that scent to the world's end。 If a pack can track a trailed herring
across a shire； how far can a specially…trained hound follow so pungent a
smell as this？ It sounds like a sum in the rule of three。 The answer
should give us theBut halloo！ here are the accredited representatives of
the law。〃
Heavy steps and the clamor of loud voices were audible from below；
and the hall door shut with a loud crash。
〃Before they come；〃 said Holmes； 〃just put your hand here on this
poor fellow's arm； and here on his leg。 What do you feel？〃
〃The muscles are as hard as a board；〃 I answered。
〃Quite so。 They are in a state of extreme contraction； far exceeding
the usual rigor mortis。 Coupled with this distortion of the face； this
Hippocratic smile； or 'risus sardonicus；' as the old writers called it； what
conclusion would it suggest to your mind？〃
〃Death from some powerful vegetable alkaloid；〃 I answered；〃some
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strychnine…like substance which would produce tetanus。〃
〃That was the idea which occurred to me the instant I saw the drawn
muscles of the face。 On getting into the room I at once looked for the
means by which the poison had entered the system。 As you saw； I
discovered a thorn which had been driven or shot with no great force into
the scalp。 You observe that the part struck was that which would be
turned towards the hole in the ceiling if the man were erect in his chair。
Now examine the thorn。〃
I took it up gingerly and held it in the light of the lantern。 It was long；
sharp； and black； with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy
substance had dried upon it。 The blunt end had been trimmed and
rounded off with a knife。
〃Is that an English thorn？〃 he asked。
〃No； it certainly is not。〃
〃With all these data you should be able to draw some just inference。
But here are the regulars： so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat。〃
As he spoke； the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly
on the passage； and a very stout； portly man in a gray suit strode heavily
into the room。 He was red…faced； burly and plethoric； with a pair of very
small twinkling eyes which looked keenly out from between swollen and
puffy pouches。 He was closely followed by an inspector in uniform； and
by the still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto。
〃Here's a business！〃 he cried； in a muffled； husky voice。 〃Here's a
pretty business！ But who are all these？ Why； the house seems to be as
full as a rabbit…warren！〃
〃I think you must recollect me； Mr。 Athelney Jones；〃 said Holmes；
quietly。
〃Why； of course I do！〃 he wheezed。 〃It's Mr。 Sherlock Holmes； the
theorist。 Remember you！ I'll never forget how you lectured us all on
causes and inferences and effects in the Bishopgate jewel case。 It's true
you set us on the right track； but you'll own now that it was more by good
luck than good guidance。〃
〃It was a piece of very simple reasoning。〃
〃Oh； come； now； come！ Never be ashamed to own up。 But what is
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all this？ Bad business！ Bad business！ Stern facts here；no room for
theories。 How lucky that I happened to be out at Norwood over another
case！ I was at the station when the message arrived。 What d'you think
the man died of？〃
〃Oh； this is hardly a case for me to theorize over；〃 said Holmes； dryly。
〃No； no。 Still； we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head
sometimes。 Dear me！ Door locked； I understand。 Jewels worth half a
million missing。 How was the window？〃
〃Fastened； but there are steps on the sill。〃
〃Well； well； if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with
the matter。 That's common sense。 Man might have died in a fit； but
then the jewels are missing。 Ha！ I have a theory。 These flashes come
upon me at times。Just step outside； sergeant； and you； Mr。 Sholto。 Your
friend can remain。What do you think of this； Holmes？ Sholto was； on
his own confession； with his brother last night。 The brother died in a fit；
on which Sholto walked off with the treasure。 How's that？〃
〃On which the dead man very considerately got up and locked the door
on the inside。〃
〃Hum！ There's a flaw there。 Let us apply common sense to the
matter。 This Thaddeus Sholto WAS with his brother； there WAS a
quarrel； so much we know。 The brother is dead and the jewels are gone。
So much also we know。 No one saw the brother from the time Thaddeus
left him。 His bed had not been slept in。 Thaddeus is evidently in a most
disturbed state of mind。 His appearance iswell； not attractive。 You see
that I am weaving my web round Thaddeus。 The net begins to close
upon him。〃
〃You are not quite in possession of the facts yet；〃 said Holmes。 〃This
splinter of wood； which I have every reason to believe to be poisoned； was
in the man's scalp where you still see the mark； this card； inscribed as you
see it； was on the table； and beside it lay this rather curio