? ? ? ? "They are more visible from the road," suggested Mr. Joseph Harrison.
? ? ? ? "Ah, yes, of course. There is a door here which he might have attempted. What is it for?"
? ? ? ? "It is the side entrance for trades-people. Of course it is locked at night."
? ? ? ? "Have you ever had an alarm like this before?"
? ? ? ? "Never," said our client.
? ? ? ? "Do you keep plate in the house, or anything to attract burglars?"
? ? ? ? "Nothing of value."
? ? ? ? Holmes strolled round the house with his hands in his pockets and a negligent air which was unusual with him.
? ? ? ? "By the way," said he to Joseph Harrison, "you found some place, I understand, where the fellow scaled the fence. Let us have a look at that!"
? ? ? ? The plump young man led us to a spot where the top of one of the wooden rails had been cracked. A small fragment of the wood was hanging down. Holmes pulled it off and examined it critically.
? ? ? ? "Do you think that was done last night? It looks rather old, does it not?"
? ? ? ? "Well, possibly so.
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