abilitywas,therefore,thatshewastellingthetruth,or,atleast,apartofthetruth.Icameawaybaffledanddisheartened.OnceagainIhadreachedthatdeadwallwhichseemedtobebuiltacrosseverypathbywhichItriedtogetattheobjectofmymission.AndyetthemoreIthoughtofthelady’sfaceandofhermannerthemoreIfeltthatsomethingwasbeingheldbackfromme.Whyshouldsheturnsopale?Whyshouldshefightagainsteveryadmissionuntilitwasforcedfromher?Whyshouldshehavebeensoreticentatthetimeofthetragedy?Surelytheexplanationofallthiscouldnotbeasinnocentasshewouldhavemebelieve.ForthemomentIcouldproceednofartherinthatdirection,butmustturnbacktothatothercluewhichwastobesoughtforamongthestonehutsuponthemoor.
Andthatwasamostvaguedirection.IrealiseditasIdrovebackandnotedhowhillafterhillshowedtracesoftheancientpeople.Barrymore’sonlyindicationhadbeenthatthestrangerlivedinoneoftheseabandonedhuts,andmanyhundredsofthemarescatteredthroughoutthelengthandbreadthofthemoor.ButIhadmyownexperienceforaguidesinceithadshownmethemanhimselfstandinguponthesummitoftheBlackTor.That,then,shouldbethecentreofmysearch.FromthereIshouldexploreeveryhutuponthemooruntilIlightedupontherightone.IfthismanwereinsideitIshouldfindoutfromhisownlips,atthepointofmyrevolverifnecessary,whohewasandwhyhehaddoggedussolong.HemightslipawayfromusinthecrowdofRegentStreet,butitwouldpuzzlehimtodosouponthelonelymoor.Ontheotherhand,ifIshouldfindthehutanditstenantshouldnotbewithinitImustremainthere,howeverlongthevigil,untilhereturned.HolmeshadmissedhiminLondon.ItwouldindeedbeatriumphformeifIcouldrunhimtoearthwheremymasterhadfailed.
Luckhadbeenagainstusagainandagaininthisinquiry,butnowatlastitcametomyaid.AndthemessengerofgoodfortunewasnoneotherthanMr.Frankland,whowasstanding,grey-whiskeredandred-faced,outsidethegateofhisgarden,whichopenedontothehighroadalongwhichItravelled.
“Good-day,Dr.Watson,”criedhewithunwontedgoodhumour,“youmustreallygiveyourhorsesarestandcomeintohaveaglassofwineandtocongratulateme.”
MyfeelingstowardshimwereveryfarfrombeingfriendlyafterwhatIhadheardofhistreatmen