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           Iwaskeenlyonthealert,therefore,forwhateverwouldbearoutthissupposition,andIexaminedtheroomnarrowlyforanythingintheshapeofahiding-place.Thecarpetseemedcontinuousandfirmlynailed,soIdismissedtheideaofatrap-door.Theremightwellbearecessbehindthebooks.Asyouareaware,suchdevicesarecommoninoldlibraries.Iobservedthatbookswerepiledontheflooratallotherpoints,butthatonebookcasewasleftclear.This,then,mightbethedoor.Icouldseenomarkstoguideme,butthecarpetwasofaduncolour,whichlendsitselfverywelltoexamination.Ithereforesmokedagreatnumberofthoseexcellentcigarettes,andIdroppedtheashalloverthespaceinfrontofthesuspectedbookcase.Itwasasimpletrick,butexceedinglyeffective.Ithenwentdownstairs,andIascertained,inyourpresence,Watson,withoutyourperceivingthedriftofmyremarks,thatProfessorCoram’sconsumptionoffoodhadincreased—asonewouldexpectwhenheissupplyingasecondperson.Wethenascendedtotheroomagain,when,byupsettingthecigarette-box,Iobtainedaveryexcellentviewofthefloor,andwasabletoseequiteclearly,fromthetracesuponthecigaretteash,thattheprisonerhadinourabsencecomeoutfromherretreat.Well,Hopkins,hereweareatCharingCross,andIcongratulateyouonhavingbroughtyourcasetoasuccessfulconclusion.Youaregoingtoheadquarters,nodoubt.Ithink,Watson,youandIwilldrivetogethertotheRussianEmbassy.”