AtthreeinthemorningthechiefSussexdetective,obeyingtheurgentcallfromSergeantWilsonofBirlstone,arrivedfromheadquartersinalightdog-cartbehindabreathlesstrotter.Bythefive-fortytraininthemorninghehadsenthismessagetoScotlandYard,andhewasattheBirlstonestationattwelveo'clocktowelcomeus.WhiteMasonwasaquiet,comfortable-lookingpersoninaloosetweedsuit,withaclean-shaved,ruddyface,astoutishbody,andpowerfulbandylegsadornedwithgaiters,lookinglikeasmallfarmer,aretiredgamekeeper,oranythinguponearthexceptaveryfavourablespecimenoftheprovincialcriminalofficer.
“Arealdownrightsnorter,Mr.MacDonald!”hekeptrepeating.“We'llhavethepressmendownlikeflieswhentheyunderstandit.I'mhopingwewillgetourworkdonebeforetheygetpokingtheirnosesintoitandmessingupallthetrails.TherehasbeennothinglikethisthatIcanremember.Therearesomebitsthatwillcomehometoyou,Mr.Holmes,orIammistaken.Andyoualso,Dr.Watsonforthemedicoswillhaveawordtosaybeforewefinish.YourroomisattheWestvilleArms.There'snootherplacebutIhearthatitiscleanandgood.Themanwillcarryyourbags.Thisway,gentlemen,ifyouplease.”
Hewasaverybustlingandgenialperson,thisSussexdetective.Intenminuteswehadallfoundourquarters.Intenmorewewereseatedintheparlouroftheinnandbeingtreatedtoarapidsketchofthoseeventswhichhavebeenoutlinedinthepreviouschapter.MacDonaldmadeanoccasionalnotewhileHolmessatabsorbed,withtheexpressionofsurprisedandreverentadmirationwithwhichthebotanistsurveystherareandpreciousbloom.
“Remarkable!”hesaid,whenthestorywasunfolded,“mostremarkable!Icanhardlyrecallanycasewherethefeatureshavebeenmorepeculiar.”
“Ithoughtyouwouldsayso,Mr.Holmes,”saidWhiteMasoningreatdelight.“We'rewellupwiththetimesinSussex.I'vetoldyounowhowmatterswere,uptothetimewhenItookoverfromSergeantWilsonbetweenthreeandfourthismorning.Myword!Imadetheoldmarego!ButIneednothavebeeninsuchahurry,asitturnedoutfortherewasnothingimmediatethatIcoulddo.SergeantWilsonhadallthefacts.Icheckedthemandconsideredth