Chapter 6 of The Sign of the four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
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Chapter 6, Sherlock, Holmes, gives a demonstration.
Now Watson said Holmes, rubbing his hands.
We have half an hour to ourselves.
Let us make good use of it. My case is, as I have told you,
almost complete, but we must not are on the side of
overconfidence simple, as the case seems, now there may be
something deeper underlying it. Simple.
I ejaculated Shirley said he with something of the air of a
clinical Professor expounding to his class, just sit in the
corner there, that's your Footprints may not complicate
matters. Now to work in the first place,
how did these folk come? And how did they go?
The door has not been open since last night.
However, the window he carried the lamp across to it muttering,
his observations are All the while, but addressing them to
himself, rather than to me window is snipped, on the inner
side, framework is solid. No hinges at the side, let us
open it. No water pipe near roof, quite
Out Of Reach yet. A man has mounted by the window.
It rained a little last night. Here is a print of a foot in the
mold upon the sill. And here is a circular muddy
Mark and here again upon the floor and Here Again by the
table. See here Watson.
This is really a very pretty demonstration.
I looked at the round well-defined muddy discs.
This is not a foot Mark said I it is something much more
valuable to us. It is the impression of a wooden
stump. You see here on the sill, is the
boot, Mark, a heavy boot with the broad metal, heel and
beside, it is the mark of the Timber toe.
It is the wooden-legged man quite so but there has been
someone else. A very able and efficient a lie,
could you scale that wall doctor?
I looked out of the open window the moon still Shone brightly on
that angle of the house. We were a good 60 feet from the
ground and look where I would I could see no foothold nor as
much as a crevice in the brickwork.
It is absolutely impossible. I answered without Aid, it is
so, but suppose you had a friend up here, who lowered you?
This good stout rope, which I see in the corner.
Securing one end of it to this great hook in the wall.
Then I think if you were an active man, you might swarm up,
wooden leg and all you would Depart of course, in the same
fashion and your ally would draw up the Rope.
Untie it from the highwomen. Shut the window, snip it on the
inside and get away in the way that he originally came as a
minor Point may be noted. He continued fingering the rope
that our wooden legged friend, though a fair, climber was not a
professional sailor. His hands were far from horny.
My Lens discloses, more than one blood Mark, especially towards
the end of the rope from which I gather that he slipped down with
such velocity. That he took the skin off his
hand. This is all very well said I,
but the thing becomes more unintelligible than ever.
How about this mysterious Ally? How came into the room?
Yes, the a lie, repeated homes pensively.
There are features of interest about this Ally.
He lifts the case, from the regions of the commonplace, I
fancy that this Ally breaks, fresh ground in the annals of
crime in this country though. Parallel cases suggest
themselves from India and if my memory serves me from
senegambia, How came he then I reiterated the doors locked.
The window is inaccessible. Was it through the chimney.
The great is much too small, he answered.
I had already considered that possibility.
How then I persisted you will not apply my precept, he said
shaking his head. How often have I said to you
that when you have eliminated, the impossible, whatever remains
however, improbable must be the truth.
We know that he did not come through the door, the window or
the chimney. We also know that he could not
have been concealed in the room, as there is no concealment
possible whence then, did he come he came through the hole in
the roof. I cried.
Of course he did. He must have done.
So if you will have the kindness to hold the lamp for me, we
shall now extend our researchers to the room above.
The secret room in which the treasure was found.
He mounted the steps and seizing A rafter with each hand.
He swung himself up into the Garret then lying on his face.
He reached down for the lamp and held it while I followed him.
the chamber in which we found ourselves, was about 10 feet,
one way and six the other The floor was formed by the rafters
with in lathe and plaster between, so that in walking one
had to step from beam to beam the roof, ran up to an Apex and
was evidently the inner shell of the true roof of the house.
There was no furniture of any sort, and the accumulated dust
of years later thick upon the floor.
Here you are you see said Sherlock Holmes, putting his
hand against the sloping wall. This is a trap door which leads
out onto the roof. I can press it back.
And here is a roof itself, sloping at a gentle angle, this
then is the way by which number one entered.
Let us see if we can find any 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, surprise look came 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 is
done the horrid thing. He 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 a 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.
I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts.
I answered, it will be clear enough soon.
He said in an offhand 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 Bloodhound picking out a scent that I could not.
But think what a terrible criminal, he would have made had
he turned his energy and suggest City 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 Office leaked out.
What? Then I asked why we have gotten
that Saul said he I know a dog that would follow that sent 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 some in the rule of three.
The answer should give us the little.
Oh, here are the accredited representatives of the law
heavy. Oops, and a 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 suggests to your mind? Death, from some powerful,
vegetable alkaloid. I answered some 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 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 parts truck
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 are, 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 have been coming
nearer, sounded loudly on the passage and a very Stout portly,
man in a grey suit, Strode heavily into the room.
He was red-faced Burley 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 Is a business, he cried in a muffled, husky voice is a
pretty business who are all days?
Why the out seems to be as full as a rabbit Warren?
I think you must recollect me mr.
Athelney Jones said Holmes, quietly.
Well, I have 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 bishop Gates
jewel case. It's true you set us on the
right track, but you alone now that it was more by good looks
and good guidance. It was a piece of very simple
reasoning. Oh, come now, come never be
ashamed to own up. But what is 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 do you think the man died of Oh this is
hardly a case for me to theorize over said, Holmes dryly.
No, no, no still. Well you can't deny that.
You hit the nail on the head sometimes.
Dear me door locked. I understand Jewels worth a 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, huh.
I have a theory. These flashes come upon me at
times. Just step outside sergeant and
you mr. Solo, your friend can remain.
What do you think of this homes short o was on his own
confession with his brother last night?
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. Hmm, there's a floor there, let
us apply common sense to the map.
This Saturday is 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.
Satya. She's evidently, you know, most
Disturbed State of Mind is appearances.
Well, not attractive. You see that?
I'm weaving. My web rounds, 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 will see the mark, this card inscribed, as you see,
it was on the table and beside it.
Lay this rather curious stone-headed.
Instrument, how does all that fit into your theory?
Confirms it in every respect. So the fat detective, pompously
house is full of Indian. Curiosities 30 has brought this
up and if this Splinter be poisonous, Thaddeus may as well,
have made murderous use of it as any other man.
The card is some hocus-pocus a blind as like as not.
The only question is, how did he Depart?
Of course, there is a hole in the roof.
With great activity, considering his bulk.
He sprang up the steps and squeeze through into the Garret
and immediately afterwards. We heard his exalting voice
proclaiming that. He had found the trap door, he
can find something remarked Holmes shrugging his shoulders.
He has occasional, glimmerings of Reason in yada, Saucy ankle
mod, Kazuki andalus free You see said I'll suddenly Jones
reappearing down the steps again facts or better than mere
theories. After all my view of the case is
confirmed, there is a trapdoor communicating with the roof and
it is partly open. It was I who opened it?
Oh, indeed, you did know. Is it?
Then he seemed a little crestfallen at the discovery.
Well, whoever noticed it, it shows our gentlemen, Got Away.
Inspector. Yes, sir.
From the passage also. Mr. Solo to step this way, mr.
Show it is my duty to inform you that anything, which you may say
will be used against you. I rest you in the Queen's name,
as being concerned, in the death of your brother.
There now didn't I tell you cried?
The poor little man throwing out his hands and looking from one
to the other of us. Don't trouble yourself about it.
Mr. Sholto said, Holmes. I think that I can engage to
clear you of the charge. Oh, bro, it's too much, mr.
Theorist. Do Promise, Too Much.
Snap, the detective who may find it a harder matter than you
think not only will I clear him. Mr. Jones, but I will make you a
free present of the name and description of one of the two
people who were in this room last night his name I have every
reason to believe is Jonathan small he is a poorly educated
man. Small active with his right leg
off and Hiring a wooden stump which is worn away.
Upon the inner side, his left boot, has a coarse square-toed
soul with an iron band around the heel.
He is a middle-aged man much sunburned and has been a
convict. These few indications may be of
some assistance to you coupled with the fact that there is a
good deal of skin missing from the palm of his hand, the other
man. Oh, the other man asked,
athelney Jones in a sneering voice.
But impressed nonetheless, as I could easily see by the
Precision of the others manner. Is a rather curious person said
Sherlock Holmes turning upon his heel.
I hope before very long to be able to introduce you to the
pair of them a word with you Watson.
He led me out to the head of the stair this unexpected
occurrence. He said has caused us, rather to
lose sight of the original purpose of our journey, I've
just been thinking so I answered it is not right, the Miss
morstan should remain in this stricken house.
No, you must escort her home. She lives with mrs.
Cecil Forrester in lower camberwell so it is not very
far. I will wait for you here.
If you will drive out again or perhaps you are too tired by no
means. I don't think I could rest until
I know more of this fantastic business.
I've seen something of the Rough Side of Life, but I give you my
word that this quick succession of strange surprises tonight has
shaken. My nerve completely.
I should like, however, to see the matter through.
With you now that I have got so far.
Your presence will be of great service to me.
He answered, we shall work the case out independently and
leave. This fellow Jones to exult over
any mares Nest, which he may choose to construct.
When you have dropped, Miss morstan, I wish you to go on to
number three. Pinchin Lane down, near the
water's edge at Lambeth. The third house on the right
hand side is a bird stuffers Sherman is the name, you'll see
a weasel holding a young rabbit in the window.
No called Sherman up and tell him with my compliments that I
want. Toby it once you'll bring Toby
back in the cab with you. Dog, I suppose, yes, acquia
Mongrel, with the most amazing power of scent.
I would rather have Toby's help than that of the whole detective
force of London. I shall bring him.
Then said I it is one. Now, I ought to be back before
three if I can get a fresh horse and I said, Holmes, she'll see
what I can learn from mrs. Bernstone and from the Indian
servant, who mr. Thaddeus tells me sleeps in the
next. Then I shall study the great
Jones is methods and listen to his not too.
Delicate sarcasms via isn't government.
Dusty mention for Hunan Cuisine East for Stayin.
Goethe is always pithy end of chapter 6. end of chapter 6.