“Haveyouseenallyouwantofthestudy?”askedWhiteMasonaswereenteredthehouse.
“Forthetime,”saidtheinspector,andHolmesnodded.
“Thenperhapsyouwouldnowliketoheartheevidenceofsomeofthepeopleinthehouse.Wecouldusethediningroom,Ames.Pleasecomeyourselffirstandtelluswhatyouknow.”
Thebutler'saccountwasasimpleandaclearone,andhegaveaconvincingimpressionofsincerity.Hehadbeenengagedfiveyearsbefore,whenDouglasfirstcametoBirlstone.HeunderstoodthatMr.DouglaswasarichgentlemanwhohadmadehismoneyinAmerica.Hehadbeenakindandconsiderateemployer—notquitewhatAmeswasusedto,perhapsbutonecan'thaveeverything.HeneversawanysignsofapprehensioninMr.Douglas:onthecontrary,hewasthemostfearlessmanhehadeverknown.Heorderedthedrawbridgetobepulledupeverynightbecauseitwastheancientcustomoftheoldhouse,andhelikedtokeeptheoldwaysup.
Mr.DouglasseldomwenttoLondonorleftthevillagebutonthedaybeforethecrimehehadbeenshoppingatTunbridgeWells.He(Ames)hadobservedsomerestlessnessandexcitementonthepartofMr.Douglasthatdayforhehadseemedimpatientandirritable,whichwasunusualwithhim.Hehadnotgonetobedthatnightbutwasinthepantryatthebackofthehouse,puttingawaythesilver,whenheheardthebellringviolently.Heheardnoshotbutitwashardlypossiblehewould,asthepantryandkitchenswereattheverybackofthehouseandtherewereseveralcloseddoorsandalongpassagebetween.Thehousekeeperhadcomeoutofherroom,attractedbytheviolentringingofthebell.Theyhadgonetothefrontofthehousetogether.
AstheyreachedthebottomofthestairshehadseenMrs.Douglascomingdownit.No,shewasnothurryingitdidnotseemtohimthatshewasparticularlyagitated.JustasshereachedthebottomofthestairMr.Barkerhadrushedoutofthestudy.HehadstoppedMrs.Douglasandbeggedhertogoback.
“ForGod'ssake,gobacktoyourroom!”hecried.“PoorJackisdead!Youcandonothing.ForGod'ssake,goback!”
AftersomepersuasionuponthestairsMrs.Douglashadgonebac