Chapter VI Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration

ossibility.” “Howthen?”Ipersisted. “Youwillnotapplymyprecept,”hesaid,shakinghishead.“HowoftenhaveIsaidtoyouthatwhenyouhaveeliminatedtheimpossiblewhateverremains,howeverimprobable,mustbethetruth?Weknowthathedidnotcomethroughthedoor,thewindow,orthechimney.Wealsoknowthathecouldnothavebeenconcealedintheroom,asthereisnoconcealmentpossible.Whence,then,didhecome?” “Hecamethroughtheholeintheroof,”Icried. “Ofcoursehedid.Hemusthavedoneso.Ifyouwillhavethekindnesstoholdthelampforme,weshallnowextendourresearchestotheroomabove,—thesecretroominwhichthetreasurewasfound.” Hemountedthesteps,and,seizingarafterwitheitherhand,heswunghimselfupintothegarret.Then,lyingonhisface,hereacheddownforthelampandhelditwhileIfollowedhim. Thechamberinwhichwefoundourselveswasabouttenfeetonewayandsixtheother.Thefloorwasformedbytherafters,withthinlath-and-plasterbetween,sothatinwalkingonehadtostepfrombeamtobeam.Theroofranuptoanapex,andwasevidentlytheinnershellofthetrueroofofthehouse.Therewasnofurnitureofanysort,andtheaccumulateddustofyearslaythickuponthefloor. “Hereyouare,yousee,”saidSherlockHolmes,puttinghishandagainsttheslopingwall.“Thisisatrap-doorwhichleadsoutontotheroof.Icanpressitback,andhereistheroofitself,slopingatagentleangle.This,then,isthewaybywhichNumberOneentered.Letusseeifwecanfindanyothertracesofhisindividuality.” Hehelddownthelamptothefloor,andashedidsoIsawforthesecondtimethatnightastartled,surprisedlookcomeoverhisface.Formyself,asIfollowedhisgazemyskinwascoldundermyclothes.Thefloorwascoveredthicklywiththeprintsofanakedfoot,—clear,welldefined,perfectlyformed,butscarcehalfthesizeofthoseofanordinaryman. “Holmes,”Isaid,inawhisper,“achildhasdonethehorridthing.” Hehadrecoveredhisself-possessioninaninstant.“Iwasstaggeredforthemoment,”hesaid,“butthethingisquitenatural.Mymemoryfailedme,orIshouldhavebeenabletoforetellit.Thereisnothingmoretobelearnedhere.Letusgodown.” “Whatisyourtheory,then,astothosefootmarks?”Iasked,eagerly,whenwehadregainedthelowerroomoncemore. “MydearWatson,tryalittleanalysisyourself,”saidhe,withatouchofimpatience.“Youknowmymethods.Applythem,anditwillbeinstructivetocompareresults.” “Icannotconceiveanythingwhichwillcoverthefacts,”Ianswered. “Itwillbeclearenoughtoyousoon,”hesaid,inanoff-handway.“Ithinkthatthereisnothingelseofimportancehere,butIwilllook.”Hewhippedouthislensandatapemeasure,andhurriedabouttheroomonhisknees,measuring,comparing,examining,withhislongthinnoseonlyafewinchesfromtheplanks,andhisbeadyeyesgleaminganddeep-setlikethoseofabird.Soswift,silent,andfurtivewerehismovements,likethoseofatrainedblood-houndpickingoutascent,thatIcouldnotbutthinkwhataterriblecriminalhewouldhavemadehadheturnedhisenergyandsagacityagainstthelaw,insteadofexertingtheminitsdefence.Ashehuntedabout,hekeptmutteringtohimself,andfinallyhebrokeouti