Itwasoneofthosedramaticmomentsforwhichmyfriendexisted.Itwouldbeanoverstatementtosaythathewasshockedorevenexcitedbytheamazingannouncement.Withouthavingatingeofcrueltyinhissingularcomposition,hewasundoubtedlycallousfromlongoverstimulation.Yet,ifhisemotionsweredulled,hisintellectualperceptionswereexceedinglyactive.TherewasnotracethenofthehorrorwhichIhadmyselffeltatthiscurtdeclarationbuthisfaceshowedratherthequietandinterestedcomposureofthechemistwhoseesthecrystalsfallingintopositionfromhisoversaturatedsolution.
“Remarkable!”saidhe.“Remarkable!”
“Youdon'tseemsurprised.”
“Interested,Mr.Mac,buthardlysurprised.WhyshouldIbesurprised?IreceiveananonymouscommunicationfromaquarterwhichIknowtobeimportant,warningmethatdangerthreatensacertainperson.WithinanhourIlearnthatthisdangerhasactuallymaterializedandthatthepersonisdead.Iaminterestedbut,asyouobserve,Iamnotsurprised.”
Inafewshortsentencesheexplainedtotheinspectorthefactsabouttheletterandthecipher.MacDonaldsatwithhischinonhishandsandhisgreatsandyeyebrowsbunchedintoayellowtangle.
“IwasgoingdowntoBirlstonethismorning,”saidhe.“Ihadcometoaskyouifyoucaredtocomewithme—youandyourfriendhere.ButfromwhatyousaywemightperhapsbedoingbetterworkinLondon.”
“Iratherthinknot,”saidHolmes.
“Hangitall,Mr.Holmes!”criedtheinspector.“ThepaperswillbefulloftheBirlstonemysteryinadayortwobutwhere'sthemysteryifthereisamaninLondonwhoprophesiedthecrimebeforeeveritoccurred?Wehaveonlytolayourhandsonthatman,andtherestwillfollow.”
“Nodoubt,Mr.Mac.Buthowdoyouproposetolayyourhandsontheso-calledPorlock?”
MacDonaldturnedovertheletterwhichHolmeshadhandedhim.“PostedinCamberwell—thatdoesn'thelpusmuch.Name,yousay,isassumed.Notmuchtogoon,certainly.Didn'tyousaythatyouhavesenthimmoney?”
“Twice.”
“Andhow?”
“InnotestoCamberwellpostoffice.”
“Didyouev