imbutstilltheporter,theclerk,andthechambermaidareallagreedthatthisaboutcoversthepoints.Hewasamanaboutfivefootnineinheight,fiftyorsoyearsofage,hishairslightlygrizzled,agrayishmoustache,acurvednose,andafacewhichallofthemdescribedasfierceandforbidding.”
“Well,bartheexpression,thatmightalmostbeadescriptionofDouglashimself,”saidHolmes.“Heisjustoverfifty,withgrizzledhairandmoustache,andaboutthesameheight.Didyougetanythingelse?”
“Hewasdressedinaheavygraysuitwithareeferjacket,andheworeashortyellowovercoatandasoftcap.”
“Whatabouttheshotgun?”
“Itislessthantwofeetlong.Itcouldverywellhavefittedintohisvalise.Hecouldhavecarrieditinsidehisovercoatwithoutdifficulty.”
“Andhowdoyouconsiderthatallthisbearsuponthegeneralcase?”
“Well,Mr.Holmes,”saidMacDonald,“whenwehavegotourman—andyoumaybesurethatIhadhisdescriptiononthewireswithinfiveminutesofhearingit—weshallbebetterabletojudge.But,evenasitstands,wehavesurelygonealongway.WeknowthatanAmericancallinghimselfHargravecametoTunbridgeWellstwodaysagowithbicycleandvalise.Inthelatterwasasawed-offshotgunsohecamewiththedeliberatepurposeofcrime.Yesterdaymorninghesetoffforthisplaceonhisbicycle,withhisgunconcealedinhisovercoat.Noonesawhimarrive,sofaraswecanlearnbutheneednotpassthroughthevillagetoreachtheparkgates,andtherearemanycyclistsupontheroad.Presumablyheatonceconcealedhiscycleamongthelaurelswhereitwasfound,andpossiblylurkedtherehimself,withhiseyeonthehouse,waitingforMr.Douglastocomeout.Theshotgunisastrangeweapontouseinsideahousebuthehadintendedtouseitoutside,andthereithasveryobviousadvantages,asitwouldbeimpossibletomisswithit,andthesoundofshotsissocommoninanEnglishsportingneighbourhoodthatnoparticularnoticewouldbetaken.”
“Thatisallveryclear,”saidHolmes.
“Well,Mr.Douglasdidnotappear.Whatwashetodonext?Helefthisbicycleandapproachedthehouseinthetwilight.Hefoundthebridgedownandnooneabout.Hetookhischance,intending,nodoubt,tomakesomeexcuseifhemetanyone.Hemetnoone.Heslippedintothefirstroomthathesaw,andconcealedhimselfbehindthecurtain.Thencehecouldseethedrawbridgegoup,andheknewthathisonlyescapewasthroughthemoat.Hewaitedunt