“ Yes,” said Holmes; “I think that both inferences are permissible. Was there any other spirit but rum in the room?”
“ Yes, there was a tantalus containing brandy and whisky on the sea-chest. It is of no importance to us, however, since the decanters were full, and it had therefore not been used.”
“ For all that, its presence has some significance,” said Holmes. “However, let us hear some more about the objects which do seem to you to bear upon the case.”
“ There was this tobacco-pouch upon the table.”
“ What part of the table?”
“ It lay in the middle. It was of coarse sealskin—the straight-haired skin, with a leather thong to bind it. Inside was ‘P.C.’ on the flap. There was half an ounce of strong ship’s tobacco in it.”
“ Excellent! What more?”
Stanley Hopkins drew from his
