"It looks as though all the moles in England had been let loose in it.I have seen something of the sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat, where the prospectors had been at work.""And from the same cause," said Holmes."These are the traces of the treasure-seekers.You must remember that they were six years looking for it.No wonder that the grounds look like a gravel- pit."At that moment the door of the house burst open, and Thaddeus Sholto came running out, with his hands thrown forward and terror in his eyes.
"There is something amiss with Bartholomew!" he cried."I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it." He was, indeed, half blubbering with fear, and his twitching feeble face peeping out from the great Astrakhan collar had the helpless appealing expression of a terrified child.
"Come into the house," said Holmes, in his crisp, firm way.
"Yes, do!" pleaded Thaddeus Sholto."I really do not feel equal to giving directions."We all followed him into the housekeeper's room, which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage.The old woman was pacing up and down with a scared look and restless picking fingers, but the sight of Miss Morstan appeared to have a soothing effect upon her.
"God bless your sweet calm face!" she cried, with an hysterical sob."It does me good to see you.Oh, but I have been sorely tried this day!"Our companion patted her thin, work-worn hand, and murmured some few words of kindly womanly comfort which brought the color back into the others bloodless cheeks.
"Master has locked himself in and will now answer me," she explained."All day I have waited to hear from him, for he often likes to be alone; but an hour ago I feared that something was amiss, so I went up and peeped through the key-hole.You must go up, Mr.Thaddeus,--you must go up and look for yourself.I have seen Mr.Bartholomew Sholto in joy and in sorrow for ten long years, but I never saw him with such a face on him as that."Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way, for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head.So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs, for his knees were trembling under him.Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to me to be mereshapeless smudges of dust upon the cocoa-nut matting which served as a stair- carpet.He walked slowly from step to step, holding the lamp, and shooting keen glances to right and left.Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper.
The third flight of stairs ended in a straight passage of some length, with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left.Holmes advanced along it in the same slow and methodical way, while we kept close at his heels, with our long black shadows streaming backwards down the corridor.The third door was that which we were seeking.Holmes knocked without receiving any answer, and then tried to turn the handle and force it open.It was locked on the inside, however, and by a broad and powerful bolt, as we could see when we set our lamp up against it.The key being turned, however, the hole was not entirely closed.Sherlock Holmes bent down to it, and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath.
