How very absurd! I never noticed that before.
Very strange! muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. There are one or
two very singular points about this room. For example, what a fool a
builder must be to open a ventilator into another room, when, with the
same trouble, he might have communicated with the outside air!
That is also quite modern, said the lady.
Done about the same time as the bell-rope? remarked Holmes.
Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that time.
They seem to have been of a most interesting character dummy
bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your
permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the
inner apartment.
Dr. Grimesby Roylott s chamber was larger than that of his
step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small wooden
shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an armchair
beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a round table,
and a large iron safe were the principal things which met the eye.
Holmes walked slowly round and examined each and all of them with the
keenest interest.
What s in here? he asked, tapping the safe.
My stepfather s business papers.
Oh! you have seen inside, then?
Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of papers.
There isn t a cat in it, for example?
No. What a strange idea!
Well, look at this! He took up a small saucer of milk which stood on
the top of it.
188