ight come through
upon this polished surface. No, I see nothing. I don't think there is
anything more to be learned here. Now for the central table. This small
pellet is, I presume, the black, doughy mass you spoke of. Roughly
pyramidal in shape and hollowed out, I perceive. As you say, there
appear to be grains of sawdust in it. Dear me, this is very interesting.
And the cut--a positive tear, I see. It began with a thin scratch and
ended in a jagged hole. I am much indebted to you for directing my
attention to this case, Mr. Soames. Where does that door lead to?"

"To my bedroom."

"Have you been in it since your adventure?"

"No; I came straight away for you."

"I should like to have a glance round. What a charming, old-fashioned
room! Perhaps you will kindly wait a minute until I have examined the
floor. No, I see nothing. What about this curtain? You hang your clothes
behind it. If anyone were forced to conceal himself in this room he must
do it there, since the bed is too low and the wardrobe too shallow. No
one there, I suppose?"

As Holmes drew the curtain I was aware, from some little rigidity and
alertness of his attitude, that he was prepared for an emergency. As
a matter of fact the drawn curtain disclosed nothing but three or four
suits of clothes hanging from a line of pegs. Holmes turned away and
stooped suddenly to the floor.

"Halloa! What's this?" said he.

It was a small pyramid of black, putty-like stuff, exactly like the one
upon the table of the study. Holmes held it out on his open palm in the
glare of the electric light.

"Your visitor seems to have left traces in your bedroom as well as in
your sitting-room, Mr. Soames."

"What could he have wanted there?"

"I think it is clear enough. You came back by an unexpected way, and so
he had no warning until you were at the very door. What could he do?
He caught up everything which would betray him and he rushed into your
bedroom to conceal himself."

"Good gracious, Mr. Holmes, do you mean to tell me that all the time I
was talking to Bannister in this room we had the man prisoner if we had
only known it?"

"So I read it."

"Surely there is another alternative, Mr. Holmes. I don't know whether
you observed my bedroom window?"

"Lattice-paned, lead framework, three separate windows, one swinging on
hinge and large enough to admit a man."

"Exactly. And it looks out on an angle of the courtyard so as to be
partly invisible. The man m