The Red Thumb Mark

ve expression, a certain suppressed excitement of a not entirely unpleasurable kind. I forbore, however, from making any remarks or asking questions, not only because I saw that he w

Polton with a few curt directions as to the development of the plates, a

when Thorndyke suddenly laid down his knife and fork a

e, "that you are the most companionable fellow in t

answered, with a grin, "I think I can pay you a

cheerfully

ts. Now, most men would have plied me with questions and babbled comments on my proceedings at Scotland Yard, whereas you have allowed me to sort out, without interruption, a

that?"

hether the police have it or whether it i

matter?"

Endsley Gardens-that is the address, I think-and if you can see Miss Gibson, try to get a confidential chat with her, and extend your knowledge of the manners and customs of the three Messieurs Hornby. Put on your best bedside manner

ard to the 'T

possession, get her to lend it to us or-what might, perhaps

will furbish up my exterior, and this very afternoon m

f Mr. Hornby's house in Endsley Gardens listening to t

my question. "She was going out, but I am not sure whether

iscellaneous furniture by which ladies nowadays convert their special domain into the semblance of a

Gibson herself entered the room. She wore her hat and g

holding out her hand with a frank and friendly manner, "but you

replied, "I have come

g," she said, with a shade of dis

arf chair of scrofulous aspect, and

a thing called

with energy. "It was the

the police took

rnby was so distressed at the idea of its being used in evidence that they let her have it back. You see, they really had no further need of it, as they could t

h' is now in Mrs. H

s destroyed it. She

larm, "for Dr. Thorndyke is extremely a

shall know. I told her you were here. Have you any ide

s an oyster. He treats me as he treats every one else-he

" mused Miss Gibson; "and yet he

with some emphasis, "but he doesn't make himse

ively snubbed," said she, smiling, but evidently s

r opened and an elderly lady entered the room. She was somewhat stout, amiable and p

er hostess; and she continued, "Dr. Jervis has come to ask

I have it in my little bureau. What d

new and dreadful surprise should be spru

xious to examine it. He is directin

iet told me about him. She says he

ich was a mischievous twinkle, and not

ered my colleague in the capacity of a dear, but I

y's artless repetition of her phrase had produced. "I think the feminine expression is more epigrammatic and comprehensive.

convinced there has-I told the detectives so. I assured them that Reuben could not have committed the robbery, and that they were totally mistaken in supposing him to be capable of such an action. But they would n

rth a lace-edged handker

sted to see this little book of yours," said I, w

uch interest in the case. Would you believe it, Dr. Jervis, those detective people actually wanted to keep it to bring up in evidence against the poor boy. My 'Thumbograph,' mind you. B

might give Dr. Jervis the 'Thumbograph

need not return it, Dr. Jervis. When you have finished wit

clusion that it would be highly indiscreet to take the book ou

me that he may desire to put it in evidence, in which case it would be better that it should not go out of you

r him without any difficulty. My nephew Walter would take one for us, I am

kly, "but I expect Dr. Thorndyke woul

act, a photograph taken by another pe

an ordinary amateur; but if I were to show you some of the photographs he has

Dr. Thorndyke's chambers?" asked Miss Gi

ively good of

e bring it? Would you lik

ould then examine it and decide what is to be don

s Gibson. "You would not mind coming

e subject when Miss Gibson rose and, looking at her watch, declared that she must

as I am, Dr. Jervis, we might arrange the

few seconds later we left the house together, leaving M

do you think?" Miss Gibson ask

d render the meeting impossible I will send you a telegram. I could wi

ly-and a very pleasant a

ep to one subject; but you must be indulgent to her little failings; you wou

, a little diffuseness of speech and haziness of ideas are

smile of approval, and we walked on for some time in silence. Presently sh

sional reserve just a little in my favour. I want you to tell me if you think Dr. Thorndyke has any ki

stion, and I took some time t

it is hardly worth telling. However, I may say this without breaking any confidence: Dr. Thorndyke has undertaken the case and is

already occurred to me. May I ask if anything came of your visit to Scotland Ya

Dr. Thorndyke is not dissatisfied with his morning's work. He certainly picked up some facts, though I have no

ed me more than I can tell you, and I won't ask you any more

th you when we had disposed of the 'Thumbograph,' so I can regard myself as combinin

ttle ironical bo

may take it that I

e, which, of course, makes for an impartial estimate of their characters. But, after all, knowledge is more useful to us than impartiality. There is our client, for instance. He impressed us both very

e one else had told you things that seemed to reflect on his chara

e made it our business to inquire into the tru

se," said she, still with an air of deep th

nowledge has ever said anythin

pt her eyes bent pensively on the ground. At lengt

e extent put a barrier between Reuben and me; and we used to be such close friends. And I have blamed myself for letting it

re on the footing of relatives, so there was nothing out of the way in it. Reuben is a keen student of ancient and mediaeval art, in which I also am much

there was any kind of understanding between Reuben and me. I thought it rather impertinent of h

mighty grave, 'I would advise you not t

?' I asked ve

, but that he, being a high-souled philosopher above the temptations that beset ordinary mortals, is superior both to her blandishments and her pecuniary attractions. I give you the hint for your own guidance,' he continued, 'and I expect t

t was I to do? I tried to ignore it and treat Reuben as I always had done, but this I found impossible; my womanly pride was much too deeply hurt. And yet I felt it the lowest depth of meanness to harbour such thoughts of him without giving him the opportunity to defend himself.

lter Hornby's conduct, and not a little disposed to blame my fair companion for giving an ear to his secret dispa

, "either Reuben has spoken most unworthily and untruthf

tion; but which of the two alternati

must say that Reuben Hornby did not strike me as that kind of man at all. Then it is clear that the proper course for Walter to have adopted, if he had really heard such rumours, was to have had the matter out

an excellent worker in business hours, is a student, or perhaps rather what one would call a scholar, whereas Walter i

raphs, for insta

. For example, he did a most beautiful series of micro-photographs of sections of metalliferous rocks

t be a very ca

but I am afraid he is rather too fond of money for its own sake, w

that it

metimes have an uneasy feeling that Walter's desire to be rich inclines him to try what looks like a quick and easy method of making money. He had a friend-a Mr. Horton-who is a dealer on the Stock Exchange and who 'operates

roceeding," I remarked, with the impartial wisd

mpression that Walter is a gambler. But here is my destination. Thank you for escorting me so far, and I hope you are b

ng to the street door; and when I glanced back, after crossing the roa