Chapter VI Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration

llthis?Badbusiness!Badbusiness!Sternfactshere,—noroomfortheories.HowluckythatIhappenedtobeoutatNorwoodoveranothercase!Iwasatthestationwhenthemessagearrived.Whatd’youthinkthemandiedof?” “Oh,thisishardlyacaseformetotheoriseover,”saidHolmes,dryly. “No,no.Still,wecan’tdenythatyouhitthenailontheheadsometimes.Dearme!Doorlocked,Iunderstand.Jewelsworthhalfamillionmissing.Howwasthewindow?” “Fastenedbuttherearestepsonthesill.” “Well,well,ifitwasfastenedthestepscouldhavenothingtodowiththematter.That’scommonsense.Manmighthavediedinafitbutthenthejewelsaremissing.Ha!Ihaveatheory.Theseflashescomeuponmeattimes.—Juststepoutside,sergeant,andyou,Mr.Sholto.Yourfriendcanremain.—Whatdoyouthinkofthis,Holmes?Sholtowas,onhisownconfession,withhisbrotherlastnight.Thebrotherdiedinafit,onwhichSholtowalkedoffwiththetreasure.How’sthat?” “Onwhichthedeadmanveryconsideratelygotupandlockedthedoorontheinside.” “Hum!There’saflawthere.Letusapplycommonsensetothematter.ThisThaddeusSholtowaswithhisbrothertherewasaquarrelsomuchweknow.Thebrotherisdeadandthejewelsaregone.Somuchalsoweknow.NoonesawthebrotherfromthetimeThaddeuslefthim.Hisbedhadnotbeensleptin.Thaddeusisevidentlyinamostdisturbedstateofmind.Hisappearanceis—well,notattractive.YouseethatIamweavingmywebroundThaddeus.Thenetbeginstocloseuponhim.” “Youarenotquiteinpossessionofthefactsyet,”saidHolmes.“Thissplinterofwood,whichIhaveeveryreasontobelievetobepoisoned,wasintheman’sscalpwhereyoustillseethemarkthiscard,inscribedasyouseeit,wasonthetableandbesideitlaythisrathercuriousstone-headedinstrument.Howdoesallthatfitintoyourtheory?” “Confirmsitineveryrespect,”saidthefatdetective,pompously.“HouseisfullofIndiancuriosities.Thaddeusbroughtthisup,andifthissplinterbepoisonousThaddeusmayaswellhavemademurderoususeofitasanyotherman.Thecardissomehocus-pocus,—ablind,aslikeasnot.Theonlyquestionis,howdidhedepart?Ah,ofcourse,hereisaholeintheroof.”Withgreatactivity,consideringhisbulk,hesprangupthestepsandsqueezedthroughintothegarret,andimmediatelyafterwardsweheardhisexultingvoiceproclaimingthathehadfoundthetrap-door. “Hecanfindsomething,”remarkedHolmes,shrugginghisshoulders.“Hehasoccasionalglimmeringsofreason.Iln’yapasdessotssiincommodesqueceuxquiontdel’esprit!” “Yousee!”saidAthelneyJones,reappearingdownthestepsagain.“Factsarebetterthanmeretheories,afterall.Myviewofthecaseisconfirmed.Thereisatrap-doorcommunicatingwiththeroof,anditispartlyopen.” “ItwasIwhoopenedit.” “Oh,indeed!Youdidnoticeit,then?”Heseemedalittlecrestfallenatthediscovery.“Well,whoevernoticedit,itshowshowourgentlemangotaway.Inspector!” “Yes,sir,”fromthepassage. “AskMr.Sholtotostepthisway.—Mr.Sholto,itismydutytoinformyouthatanythingwhichyoumaysaywillbeusedagainstyou.IarrestyouintheQueen’snameasbeingconcernedinthedeathofyourbrother.” “There,