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Chapter 7—The Solution

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    etofunderclothes,socks,agraytweedsuit,andashortyellowovercoat. “Theclothesarecommonplace,”remarkedHolmes,“saveonlytheovercoat,whichisfullofsuggestivetouches.”Heheldittenderlytowardsthelight.“Here,asyouperceive,istheinnerpocketprolongedintothelininginsuchfashionastogiveamplespaceforthetruncatedfowlingpiece.Thetailor'stabisontheneck—'Neal,Outfitter,Vermissa,U.S.A.'Ihavespentaninstructiveafternoonintherector'slibrary,andhaveenlargedmyknowledgebyaddingthefactthatVermissaisaflourishinglittletownattheheadofoneofthebestknowncoalandironvalleysintheUnitedStates.Ihavesomerecollection,Mr.Barker,thatyouassociatedthecoaldistrictswithMr.Douglas'sfirstwife,anditwouldsurelynotbetoofar-fetchedaninferencethattheV.V.uponthecardbythedeadbodymightstandforVermissaValley,orthatthisveryvalleywhichsendsforthemissariesofmurdermaybethatValleyofFearofwhichwehaveheard.Somuchisfairlyclear.Andnow,Mr.Barker,Iseemtobestandingratherinthewayofyourexplanation.” ItwasasighttoseeCecilBarker'sexpressivefaceduringthisexpositionofthegreatdetective.Anger,amazement,consternation,andindecisionsweptoveritinturn.Finallyhetookrefugeinasomewhatacridirony. “Youknowsuchalot,Mr.Holmes,perhapsyouhadbettertellussomemore,”hesneered. “IhavenodoubtthatIcouldtellyouagreatdealmore,Mr.Barkerbutitwouldcomewithabettergracefromyou.” “Oh,youthinkso,doyou?Well,allIcansayisthatifthere'sanysecrethereitisnotmysecret,andIamnotthemantogiveitaway.” “Well,ifyoutakethatline,Mr.Barker,”saidtheinspectorquietly,“wemustjustkeepyouinsightuntilwehavethewarrantandcanholdyou.” “Youcandowhatyoudamnpleaseaboutthat,”saidBarkerdefiantly. Theproceedingsseemedtohavecometoadefiniteendsofarashewasconcernedforonehadonlytolookatthatgranitefacetorealizethatnopeineforteetdurewouldeverforcehimtopleadagainsthiswill.Thedeadlockwasbroken,however,byawoman'svoice.Mrs.Douglashadbeenstandinglisteningatthehalfopeneddoor,andnowsheenteredtheroom. “Youhavedoneenoughfornow,Cecil,”saidshe.“Whatevercomesofitinthefuture,youhavedoneenough.” “Enoughandmorethanenough,”remarkedSherlockHolmesgravely.“Ihaveeverysympathywithyou,madam,andshouldstronglyurgeyoutohavesomeconfidenceinthecommonsenseofourjurisdictionandtotakethepolicevoluntarilyintoyourcompleteconfidence.ItmaybethatIammyselfatfaultfornotfollowingupthehintwhichyouconveyedtomethroughmyfriend,Dr.Watsonbut,atthattimeIhadeveryreasontobelievethatyouweredirectlyconcernedinthecrime.NowIamassuredthatthisisnotso.Atthesametime,thereismuchthatisunexplained,andIshouldstronglyrecommendthatyouaskMr.Douglastotellushisownstory.” Mrs.Douglasgave
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