"How did you word your inquiries?"

"We simply detailed the circumstances, and said that we
should be glad of any information which could help us."

"You did not ask for particulars on any point which appeared
to you to be crucial?"

"I asked about Stangerson."

"Nothing else? Is there no circumstance on which this whole
case appears to hinge? Will you not telegraph again?"

"I have said all I have to say," said Gregson,
in an offended voice.

Sherlock Holmes chuckled to himself, and appeared to be about
to make some remark, when Lestrade, who had been in the front
room while we were holding this conversation in the hall,
reappeared upon the scene, rubbing his hands in a pompous and
self-satisfied manner.

"Mr. Gregson," he said, "I have just made a discovery of the
highest importance, and one which would have been overlooked
had I not made a careful examination of the walls."

The little man's eyes sparkled as he spoke, and he was
evidently in a state of suppressed exultation at having
scored a point against his colleague.