"This splinter of wood, which I have every reason to believe to
be poisoned, was in the man's scalp where you still see the mark;
this card, inscribed as you see it, was on the table; and beside
it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument. How does all
that fit into your theory?"
"Confirms it in every respect," said the fat detective,
pompously. "House is full of Indian curiosities. Thaddeus
brought this up, and if this splinter be poisonous Thaddeus may
as well have made murderous use of it as any other man. The card
is some hocus-pocus,--a blind, as like as not. The only question
is, how did he depart? Ah, of course, here is a hole in the
roof." With great activity, considering his bulk, he sprang up
the steps and squeezed through into the garret, and immediately
afterwards we heard his exulting voice proclaiming that he had
found the trap-door.
"He can find something," remarked Holmes, shrugging his
shoulders. "He has occasional glimmerings of reason. Il n'y a
pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit!"
"You see!" said Athelney Jones, reappearing down the steps again.
"Facts are better than mere theories, after all. My view of the
case is confirmed.
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