You observe that the part struck was that which would be turned towards the hole in the ceiling if the man were erect in his chair.

Now examine the thorn." I took it up gingerly and held it in the light of the lantern.

It was long, sharp, and black, with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy substance had dried upon it.

The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife.
"Is that an English thorn ?" he asked.
"No, it certainly is not." "With all these data you should be able to draw some just inference.
But here are the regulars: so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat." As he spoke, the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage, and a very stout, portly man in a gray suit strode heavily into the room.

He was red-faced, burly and plethoric, with a pair of very small twinkling eyes which looked keenly out from between swollen and puffy pouches.