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 might have effected his entrance there, left traces as he passed through the bedroom, and, finally, finding the door open have escaped that way."Holmes shook his head impatiently.