By the way, there is one curious
little point about those papers which may serve us as the
starting-point for an inquiry. On looking over the bank-book
I found that the low state of the balance was principally due
to large cheques which have been made out during the last year
to Mr. Cornelius. I confess that I should be interested to know
who this Mr. Cornelius may be with whom a retired builder has
such very large transactions. Is it possible that he has had
a hand in the affair? Cornelius might be a broker, but we have
found no scrip to correspond with these large payments. Failing
any other indication my researches must now take the direction
of an inquiry at the bank for the gentleman who has cashed these
cheques. But I fear, my dear fellow, that our case will end
ingloriously by Lestrade hanging our client, which will
certainly be a triumph for Scotland Yard."
I do not know how far Sherlock Holmes took any sleep that night,
but when I came down to breakfast I found him pale and harassed,
his bright eyes the brighter for the dark shadows round them.
The carpet round his chair was littered with cigarette-ends and
with the early editions of the morning papers.
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