Chapter VI Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration

“Now,Watson,”saidHolmes,rubbinghishands,“wehavehalfanhourtoourselves.Letusmakegooduseofit.Mycaseis,asIhavetoldyou,almostcompletebutwemustnoterronthesideofover-confidence.Simpleasthecaseseemsnow,theremaybesomethingdeeperunderlyingit.” “Simple!”Iejaculated. “Surely,”saidhe,withsomethingoftheairofaclinicalprofessorexpoundingtohisclass.“Justsitinthecornerthere,thatyourfootprintsmaynotcomplicatematters.Nowtowork!Inthefirstplace,howdidthesefolkcome,andhowdidtheygo?Thedoorhasnotbeenopenedsincelastnight.Howofthewindow?”Hecarriedthelampacrosstoit,mutteringhisobservationsaloudthewhile,butaddressingthemtohimselfratherthantome.“Windowissnibbedontheinnerside.Frameworkissolid.Nohingesattheside.Letusopenit.Nowater-pipenear.Roofquiteoutofreach.Yetamanhasmountedbythewindow.Itrainedalittlelastnight.Hereistheprintofafootinmoulduponthesill.Andhereisacircularmuddymark,andhereagainuponthefloor,andhereagainbythetable.Seehere,Watson!Thisisreallyaveryprettydemonstration.” Ilookedattheround,well-definedmuddydiscs.“Thisisnotafootmark,”saidI. “Itissomethingmuchmorevaluabletous.Itistheimpressionofawoodenstump.Youseehereonthesillistheboot-mark,aheavybootwiththebroadmetalheel,andbesideitisthemarkofthetimber-toe.” “Itisthewooden-leggedman.” “Quiteso.Buttherehasbeensomeoneelse,—averyableandefficientally.Couldyouscalethatwall,doctor?” Ilookedoutoftheopenwindow.Themoonstillshonebrightlyonthatangleofthehouse.Wewereagoodsixtyfeetfromtheground,and,lookwhereIwould,Icouldseenofoothold,norasmuchasacreviceinthebrick-work. “Itisabsolutelyimpossible,”Ianswered. “Withoutaiditisso.ButsupposeyouhadafriendupherewholoweredyouthisgoodstoutropewhichIseeinthecorner,securingoneendofittothisgreathookinthewall.Then,Ithink,ifyouwereanactiveman,Youmightswarmup,woodenlegandall.Youwoulddepart,ofcourse,inthesamefashion,andyourallywoulddrawuptherope,untieitfromthehook,shutthewindow,snibitontheinside,andgetawayinthewaythatheoriginallycame.Asaminorpointitmaybenoted,”hecontinued,fingeringtherope,“thatourwooden-leggedfriend,thoughafairclimber,wasnotaprofessionalsailor.Hishandswerefarfromhorny.Mylensdisclosesmorethanoneblood-mark,especiallytowardstheendoftherope,fromwhichIgatherthatheslippeddownwithsuchvelocitythathetooktheskinoffhishand.” “Thisisallverywell,”saidI,“butthethingbecomesmoreunintelligiblethanever.Howaboutthismysteriousally?Howcameheintotheroom?” “Yes,theally!”repeatedHolmes,pensively.“Therearefeaturesofinterestaboutthisally.Heliftsthecasefromtheregionsofthecommonplace.Ifancythatthisallybreaksfreshgroundintheannalsofcrimeinthiscountry,—thoughparallelcasessuggestthemselvesfromIndia,and,ifmymemoryservesme,fromSenegambia.” “Howcamehe,then?”Ireiterated.“Thedoorislocked,thewindowisinaccessible.Wasitthroughthechimney?” “Thegrateismuchtoosmall,”heanswered.“Ihadalreadyconsideredthatp