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OF of a carriage。〃
〃On the roof!〃
〃Remarkable; is it not? But consider the facts。 Is it a
coincidence that it is found at the very point where the train
pitches and sways as it es round on the points? Is not that
the place where an object upon the roof might be expected to fall
off? The points would affect no object inside the train。 Either
the body fell from the roof; or a very curious coincidence has
occurred。 But now consider the question of the blood。 Of
course; there was no bleeding on the line if the body had bled
elsewhere。 Each fact is suggestive in itself。 Together they
have a cumulative force。〃
〃And the ticket; too!〃 I cried。
〃Exactly。 We could not explain the absence of a ticket。 This
would explain it。 Everything fits together。〃
〃But suppose it were so; we are still as far as ever from
unravelling the mystery of his death。 Indeed; it bees not
simpler but stranger。〃
〃Perhaps;〃 said Holmes; thoughtfully; 〃perhaps。〃 He relapsed
into a silent reverie; which lasted until the slow train drew up
at last in Woolwich Station。 There he called a cab and drew
Mycroft's paper from his pocket。
〃We have quite a little round of afternoon calls to make;〃 said
he。 〃I think that Sir James Walter claims our first attention。〃
The house of the famous official was a fine villa with green
lawns stretching down to the Thames。 As we reached it the fog
was lifting; and a thin; watery sunshine was breaking through。 A
butler answered our ring。
〃Sir James; sir!〃 said he with solemn face。 〃Sir James died this
morning。〃
〃Good heavens!〃 cried Holmes in amazement。 〃H
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