You have saved an innocent man's life, and you have
prevented a very grave scandal, which would have ruined my
reputation in the Force."
Holmes smiled and clapped Lestrade upon the shoulder.
"Instead of being ruined, my good sir, you will find that
your reputation has been enormously enhanced. Just make
a few alterations in that report which you were writing,
and they will understand how hard it is to throw dust
in the eyes of Inspector Lestrade."
"And you don't want your name to appear?"
"Not at all. The work is its own reward. Perhaps I shall get
the credit also at some distant day when I permit my zealous
historian to lay out his foolscap once more -- eh, Watson?
Well, now, let us see where this rat has been lurking."
A lath-and-plaster partition had been run across the passage
six feet from the end, with a door cunningly concealed in it.
It was lit within by slits under the eaves. A few articles of
furniture and a supply of food and water were within, together
with a number of books and papers.
"There's the advantage of being a builder," said Holmes,
as we came out. "He was able to fix up his own little
hiding-place without any confederate -- save, of course,
that precious housekeeper of his, whom I should lose no
time in adding to your bag, Lestrade.
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