Page 36 (1/1)

"You see!" said Athelney Jones, reappearing down the steps again "Facts are better than mere theories, after all My view of the case is confir with the roof, and it is partly open"

"It was I who opened it"

"Oh, indeed! You did notice it, then?" He seemed a little crestfallen at the discovery "Well, whoever noticed it, it sho our gentlee

"Ask Mr Sholto to step this way--Mr Sholto, it iswhich you ainst you I arrest you in the queen's na concerned in the death of your brother"

"There, now! Didn't I tell you!" cried the poor littlefrom one to the other of us

"Don't trouble yourself about it, Mr Sholto," said Hole"

"Don't promise too much, Mr Theorist,--don't promise too much!" snapped the detective "You may find it a harder matter than you think"

"Not only will I clear him, Mr Jones, but I will make you a free present of the name and description of one of the two people ere in this rooht His name, I have every reason to believe, is Jonathan Sht leg off, and wearing a wooden stump which is worn away upon the inner side His left boot has a coarse, square-toed sole, with an iron band round the heel He is a ed man, much sunburned, and has been a convict These few indications may be of soood deal of skinfrom the palm of his hand The other man--"

"Ah! the othervoice, but impressed none the less, as I could easily see, by the precision of the other's manner

"Is a rather curious person," said Sherlock Hol to be able to introduce you to the pair of them--A ith you, Watson"

He led me out to the head of the stair "This unexpected occurrence," he said, "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey"

"I have just been thinking so," I answered "It is not right that Miss Morstan should remain in this stricken house"

"No You must escort her home She lives with Mrs Cecil Forrester, in Lower Camberwell: so it is not very far I ait for you here if you will drive out again Or perhaps you are too tired?"