I would note that fact.

And tell me what you make of that." He handed me the pencil, which I examined with concentrated attention, helping myself even with the lamp and my pocket lens.

But even with these aids I failed to discover anything unusual in its appearance.
Thorndyke watched me with a mischievous smile, and, when I had finished, inquired: "Well; what is it ?" "Confound you!" I exclaimed.

"It's a pencil.

Any fool can see that, and this particular fool can't see any more.