The Complete Sherlock Holmes

“I don’t doubt it, Mr. Holmes; but that is no
business of ours.”
“Is it not? Is it not? Breadth of view, my dear
Mr. Mac, is one of the essentials of our profession.
The interplay of ideas and the oblique uses of
knowledge are often of extraordinary interest. You
will excuse these remarks from one who, though a
mere connoisseur of crime, is still rather older and
perhaps more experienced than yourself.”
“I’m the first to admit that,” said the detective
heartily. “You get to your point, I admit; but you
have such a deuced round-the-corner way of doing
it.”
“Well, well, I’ll drop past history and get down
to present-day facts. I called last night, as I have
already said, at the Manor House. I did not see
either Barker or Mrs. Douglas. I saw no necessity
to disturb them; but I was pleased to hear that
the lady was not visibly pining and that she had
partaken of an excellent dinner. My visit was specially
made to the good Mr. Ames, with whom I
exchanged some amiabilities, which culminated in
his allowing me, without reference to anyone else,
to sit alone for a time in the study.”
“What! With that?” I ejaculated.
“No, no, everything is now in order. You gave
permission for that, Mr. Mac, as I am informed.
The room was in its normal state, and in it I passed
an instructive quarter of an hour.”
“What were you doing?”
“Well, not to make a mystery of so simple a
matter, I was looking for the missing dumb-bell. It
has always bulked rather large in my estimate of
the case. I ended by finding it.”
“Where?”
“Ah, there we come to the edge of the unexplored.
Let me go a little further, a very little further,
and I will promise that you shall share everything
that I know.”
“Well, we’re bound to take you on your own
terms,” said the inspector; “but when it comes to
telling us to abandon the case—why in the name
of goodness should we abandon the case?”
“For the simple reason, my dear Mr. Mac, that
you have not got the first idea what it is that you
are investigating.”
“We are investigating the murder of Mr. John
Douglas of Birlstone Manor.”
“Yes, yes, so you are. But don’t trouble to trace
the mysterious gentleman upon the bicycle. I assure
you that it won’t help you.”
“Then what do you suggest that we do?”
The Valley Of Fear
693
“I will tell you exactly what to do, if you will
do it.”
“Well, I’m bound to say I’ve always found you
had reason behind all your queer ways. I’ll do
what you advise.”
“And you, Mr. White Mason?”
The country detective looked helplessly from
one to the other. Holmes and his methods were
new to him. “Well, if it is good enough for the inspector,
it is good enough for me,” he said at last.
“Capital!” said Holmes. “Well, then, I should
recommend a nice, cheery country walk for both
of you. They tell me that the views from Birlstone
Ridge over the Weald are very remarkable. No
doubt lunch could be got at some suitable hostelry;
though my ignorance of the country prevents me
from recommending one. In the evening, tired but
happy—”
“Man, this is getting past a joke!” cried Mac-
Donald, rising angrily from his chair.
“Well, well, spend the day as you like,” said
Holmes, patting him cheerfully upon the shoulder.
“Do what you like and go where you will, but
meet me here before dusk without fail—without
fail, Mr. Mac.”
“That sounds more like sanity.”
“All of it was excellent advice; but I don’t insist,
so long as you are here when I need you. But
now, before we part, I want you to write a note to
Mr. Barker.”
“Well?”
“I’ll dictate it, if you like. Ready?
“Dear Sir:
“It has struck me that it is our duty
to drain the moat, in the hope that we
may find some—“
“It’s impossible,” said the inspector. “I’ve
made inquiry.”
“Tut, tut! My dear sir, please do what I ask
you.”
“Well, go on.”
“—in the hope that we may find
something which may bear upon our
investigation. I have made arrangements,
and the workmen will be at
work early to-morrow morning diverting
the stream—“
“Impossible!”
“—diverting the stream; so I thought
it best to explain matters beforehand.