hubb's before I joined
the police. It is a combination lock of seven letters; but there seems
to be a way of locking even the combination. It is one of Chatwood's;
I shall call at their place and find out something about it." Then
turning to the Doctor, as though his own work were for the present
done, he said:

"Have you anything you can tell me at once, Doctor, which will not
interfere with your full report? If there is any doubt I can wait, but
the sooner I know something definite the better." Doctor Winchester
answered at once:

"For my own part I see no reason in waiting. I shall make a full
report of course. But in the meantime I shall tell you all I
know--which is after all not very much, and all I think--which is less
definite. There is no wound on the head which could account for the
state of stupor in which the patient continues. I must, therefore,
take it that either he has been drugged or is under some hypnotic
influence. So far as I can judge, he has not been drugged--at least by
means of any drug of whose qualities I am aware. Of course, there is
ordinarily in this room so much of a mummy smell that it is difficult
to be certain about anything having a delicate aroma. I dare say that
you have noticed the peculiar Egyptians scents, bitumen, nard, aromatic
gums and spices, and so forth. It is quite possible that somewhere in
this room, amongst the curios and hidden by stronger scents, is some
substance or liquid which may have the effect we see. It is possible
that the patient has taken some drug, and that he may in some sleeping
phase have injured himself. I do not think this is likely; and
circumstances, other than those which I have myself been investigating,
may prove that this surmise is not correct. But in the meantime it is
possible; and must, till it be disproved, be kept within our purview."
Here Sergeant Daw interrupted:

"That may be, but if so, we should be able to find the instrument with
which the wrist was injured. There would be marks of blood somewhere."

"Exactly so!" said the Doctor, fixing his glasses as though preparing
for an argument. "But if it be that the patient has used some strange
drug, it may be one that does not take effect at once. As we are as
yet ignorant of its potentialities--if, indeed, the whole surmise is
correct at all--we must be prepared at all points."

Here Miss Trelawny joined in the conversation:

"That would be quite right, so far as the a