VI. Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration

           “Now,Watson,”saidHolmes,rubbinghishands,“wehavehalfanhourtoourselves.Letusmakegooduseofit.Mycaseis,asIhavetoldyou,almostcomplete;butwemustnoterronthesideofover-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.