Holmes let the way up
the curving, uncarpeted stair. His little fan of yellow light
shone upon a low window.
"Here we are, Watson--this must be the one." He threw it open,
and as he did so there was a low, harsh murmur, growing steadily
into a loud roar as a train dashed past us in the darkness.
Holmes swept his light along the window-sill. It was thickly
coated with soot from the passing engines, but the black surface
was blurred and rubbed in places.
"You can see where they rested the body. Halloa, Watson! what is
this? There can be no doubt that it is a blood mark." He was
pointing to faint discolourations along the woodwork of the
window. "Here it is on the stone of the stair also. The
demonstration is complete. Let us stay here until a train
stops."
We had not long to wait. The very next train roared from the
tunnel as before, but slowed in the open, and then, with a
creaking of brakes, pulled up immediately beneath us. It was not
four feet from the window-ledge to the roof of the carriages.
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