The man entered
and took the papers, sheet by sheet, from the central table.
He carried them over to the window table, because from there he
could see if you came across the courtyard, and so could effect
an escape."
"As a matter of fact he could not," said Soames, "for I entered
by the side door."
"Ah, that's good! Well, anyhow, that was in his mind. Let me
see the three strips. No finger impressions -- no! Well, he
carried over this one first and he copied it. How long would it
take him to do that, using every possible contraction? A quarter
of an hour, not less. Then he tossed it down and seized the
next. He was in the midst of that when your return caused him
to make a very hurried retreat -- VERY hurried, since he had not
time to replace the papers which would tell you that he had been
there. You were not aware of any hurrying feet on the stair as
you entered the outer door?"
"No, I can't say I was."
"Well, he wrote so furiously that he broke his pencil, and had,
as you observe, to sharpen it again. This is of interest,
Watson. The pencil was not an ordinary one. It was above the
usual size, with a soft lead; the outer colour was dark blue,
the maker's name was printed in silver lettering, and the piece
remaining is only about an inch and a half long.
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