acryofastonishmentatHolmes'swords.ThedetectivesandImusthaveechoedit,whenwewereawareofamanwhoseemedtohaveemergedfromthewall,whoadvancednowfromthegloomofthecornerinwhichhehadappeared.Mrs.Douglasturned,andinaninstantherarmswereroundhim.Barkerhadseizedhisoutstretchedhand.
“It'sbestthisway,Jack,”hiswiferepeated“Iamsurethatitisbest.”
“Indeed,yes,Mr.Douglas,”saidSherlockHolmes,“Iamsurethatyouwillfinditbest.”
Themanstoodblinkingatuswiththedazedlookofonewhocomesfromthedarkintothelight.Itwasaremarkableface,boldgrayeyes,astrong,short-clipped,grizzledmoustache,asquare,projectingchin,andahumorousmouth.Hetookagoodlookatusall,andthentomyamazementheadvancedtomeandhandedmeabundleofpaper.
“I'veheardofyou,”saidheinavoicewhichwasnotquiteEnglishandnotquiteAmerican,butwasaltogethermellowandpleasing.“Youarethehistorianofthisbunch.Well,Dr.Watson,you'veneverhadsuchastoryasthatpassthroughyourhandsbefore,andI'lllaymylastdollaronthat.Tellityourownwaybuttherearethefacts,andyoucan'tmissthepublicsolongasyouhavethose.I'vebeencoopeduptwodays,andI'vespentthedaylighthours—asmuchdaylightasIcouldgetinthatrattrap—inputtingthethingintowords.You'rewelcometothem—youandyourpublic.There'sthestoryoftheValleyofFear.”
“That'sthepast,Mr.Douglas,”saidSherlockHolmesquietly.“Whatwedesirenowistohearyourstoryofthepresent.”
“You'llhaveit,sir,”saidDouglas.“MayIsmokeasItalk?Well,thankyou,Mr.Holmes.You'reasmokeryourself,ifIrememberright,andyou'llguesswhatitistobesittingfortwodayswithtobaccoinyourpocketandafraidthatthesmellwillgiveyouaway.”HeleanedagainstthemantelpieceandsuckedatthecigarwhichHolmeshadhandedhim.“I'veheardofyou,Mr.Holmes.IneverguessedthatIshouldmeetyou.Butbeforeyouarethroughwiththat,”henoddedatmypapers,“youwillsayI'vebroughtyousomethingfresh.”
InspectorMacDonaldhadbeenstaringatthenewcomerwiththegreatestamazement.“Well,thisfairlybeatsme!”hecriedatlast.“IfyouareMr.JohnDouglasofBirlstoneManor,thenwhosedeathhavewebeeninvestigatingforthesetwodays,andwhereintheworldhaveyousprungfromnow?Youseemedtometocomeoutofthefloorlikeajack-in-a-box.”
“Ah,Mr.Mac,”saidHolmes,shakingareprovingforefinger,“youwouldnotreadthatexcellentlocalcompilationwhichdescribedtheconcealmentofKingCharles.Peopledidnothideinthosedayswithoutexcellenthidingplaces,andthehidingplacethathasoncebeenusedmaybeagain.IhadpersuadedmyselfthatweshouldfindMr.Douglasunderthisroof.”
“Andhowlonghaveyoubeenplayingthistrickuponus,Mr.Holmes?”saidtheinspectorangrily.“Howlonghaveyouallowedustowasteourselvesuponasearchthatyouknewtobeanabsurdone?”
“Notoneinstant,mydearMr.Mac.Onlyla