eetthatIhadmydoubtsiftherewaseveranoutsider,”saidMacDonald,“butthat'sallpastnow.We'vehadthebicycleidentified,andwehaveadescriptionofourmansothat'salongsteponourjourney.”
“Itsoundstomelikethebeginningoftheend,”saidHolmes.“I'msureIcongratulateyoubothwithallmyheart.”
“Well,IstartedfromthefactthatMr.Douglashadseemeddisturbedsincethedaybefore,whenhehadbeenatTunbridgeWells.ItwasatTunbridgeWellsthenthathehadbecomeconsciousofsomedanger.Itwasclear,therefore,thatifamanhadcomeoverwithabicycleitwasfromTunbridgeWellsthathemightbeexpectedtohavecome.Wetookthebicycleoverwithusandshoweditatthehotels.ItwasidentifiedatoncebythemanageroftheEagleCommercialasbelongingtoamannamedHargrave,whohadtakenaroomtheretwodaysbefore.Thisbicycleandasmallvalisewerehiswholebelongings.HehadregisteredhisnameascomingfromLondon,buthadgivennoaddress.ThevalisewasLondonmade,andthecontentswereBritishbutthemanhimselfwasundoubtedlyanAmerican.”
“Well,well,”saidHolmesgleefully,“youhaveindeeddonesomesolidworkwhileIhavebeensittingspinningtheorieswithmyfriend!It'salessoninbeingpractical,Mr.Mac.”
“Ay,it'sjustthat,Mr.Holmes,”saidtheinspectorwithsatisfaction.
“Butthismayallfitinwithyourtheories,”Iremarked.
“Thatmayormaynotbe.Butletusheartheend,Mr.Mac.Wastherenothingtoidentifythisman?”
“Solittlethatitwasevidentthathehadcarefullyguardedhimselfagainstidentification.Therewerenopapersorletters,andnomarkingupontheclothes.Acyclemapofthecountylayonhisbedroomtable.Hehadleftthehotelafterbreakfastyesterdaymorningonhisbicycle,andnomorewasheardofhimuntilourinquiries.”
“That'swhatpuzzlesme,Mr.Holmes,”saidWhiteMason.“Ifthefellowdidnotwantthehueandcryraisedoverhim,onewouldimaginethathewouldhavereturnedandremainedatthehotelasaninoffensivetourist.Asitis,hemustknowthathewillbereportedtothepolicebythehotelmanagerandthathisdisappearancewillbeconnectedwiththemurder.”
“Soonewouldimagine.Still,hehasbeenjustifiedofhiswisdomuptodate,atanyrate,sincehehasnotbeentaken.Buthisdescription—whatofthat?”
MacDonaldreferredtohisnotebook.“Herewehaveitsofarastheycouldgiveit.Theydon'tseemtohavetakenanyveryparticularstockofh