ilquarter-pasteleven,whenMr.Douglasuponhisusualnightlyroundcameintotheroom.Heshothimandescaped,asarranged.HewasawarethatthebicyclewouldbedescribedbythehotelpeopleandbeaclueagainsthimsoheleftitthereandmadehiswaybysomeothermeanstoLondonortosomesafehidingplacewhichhehadalreadyarranged.Howisthat,Mr.Holmes?”
“Well,Mr.Mac,itisverygoodandveryclearsofarasitgoes.Thatisyourendofthestory.MyendisthatthecrimewascommittedhalfanhourearlierthanreportedthatMrs.DouglasandBarkerarebothinaconspiracytoconcealsomethingthattheyaidedthemurderer'sescape—oratleastthattheyreachedtheroombeforeheescaped—andthattheyfabricatedevidenceofhisescapethroughthewindow,whereasinallprobabilitytheyhadthemselveslethimgobyloweringthebridge.That'smyreadingofthefirsthalf.”
Thetwodetectivesshooktheirheads.
“Well,Mr.Holmes,ifthisistrue,weonlytumbleoutofonemysteryintoanother,”saidtheLondoninspector.
“Andinsomewaysaworseone,”addedWhiteMason.“TheladyhasneverbeeninAmericainallherlife.WhatpossibleconnectioncouldshehavewithanAmericanassassinwhichwouldcausehertoshelterhim?”
“Ifreelyadmitthedifficulties,”saidHolmes.“Iproposetomakealittleinvestigationofmyownto-night,anditisjustpossiblethatitmaycontributesomethingtothecommoncause.”
“Canwehelpyou,Mr.Holmes?”
“No,no!DarknessandDr.Watson'sumbrella—mywantsaresimple.AndAmes,thefaithfulAmes,nodoubthewillstretchapointforme.Allmylinesofthoughtleadmebackinvariablytotheonebasicquestion—whyshouldanathleticmandevelophisframeuponsounnaturalaninstrumentasasingledumb-bell?”
ItwaslatethatnightwhenHolmesreturnedfromhissolitaryexcursion.Wesleptinadouble-beddedroom,whichwasthebestthatthelittlecountryinncoulddoforus.IwasalreadyasleepwhenIwaspartlyawakenedbyhisentrance.
“Well,Holmes,”Imurmured,“haveyoufoundanythingout?”
Hestoodbesidemeinsilence,hiscandleinhishand.Thenthetall,leanfigureinclinedtowardsme.“Isay,Watson,”hewhispered,“wouldyoubeafraidtosleepinthesameroomwithalunatic,amanwithsofteningofthebrain,anidiotwhosemindhaslostitsgrip?”
“Notintheleast,”Iansweredinastonishment.
“Ah,that'slucky,”hesaid,andnotanotherwordwouldheutterthatnight.