dow。 〃Here　it　is　on　the　stone　of　the　stair　also。 The

demonstration　is　plete。 Let　us　stay　here　until　a　train

stops。〃

We　had　not　long　to　wait。 The　very　next　train　roared　from　the

tunnel　as　before；　but　slowed　in　the　open；　and　then；　with　a

creaking　of　brakes；　pulled　up　immediately　beneath　us。 It　was　not

four　feet　from　the　window…ledge　to　the　roof　of　the　carriages。

Holmes　softly　closed　the　window。

〃So　far　we　are　justified；〃　said　he。 〃What　do　you　think　of　it；

Watson？〃

〃A　masterpiece。 You　have　never　risen　to　a　greater　height。〃

〃I　cannot　agree　with　you　there。 From　the　moment　that　I　conceived

the　idea　of　the　body　being　upon　the　roof；　which　surely　was　not　a

very　abstruse　one；　all　the　rest　was　inevitable。 If　it　were　not

for　the　grave　interests　involved　the　affair　up　to　this　point

would　be　insignificant。 Our　difficulties　are　still　before　us。

But　perhaps　we　may　find　something　here　which　may　help　us。〃

We　had　ascended　the　kitchen　stair　and　entered　the　suite　of　rooms

upon　the　first　floor。 One　was　a　dining…room；　severely　furnished

and　containing　nothing　of　interest。 A　second　was　a　bedroom；

which　also　drew　blank。 The　remaining　room　appeared　more

promising；　and　my　panion　settled　down　to　a　systematic

examination。 It　was　littered　with　books　and　papers；　and　was

evidently　used　as　a　study。 Swiftly　and　methodically　Holmes

turned　over　the　contents　of　drawer　after　drawer　and　cupboard

after　cupboard；　but　no　gleam　of　success　came　to　brighten　his

austere　face。 At　the　end　of　an　hour　he　was　no　further　than　when

he　started。

〃The　cunning　dog　has　covered　his　tracks；〃　said　he。 〃He　has　left