dintothecasewhichmayaccountforhisleadingthehorsefromthestable.”
Holmesprickeduphisears.
“WehavefoundtraceswhichshowthatapartyofgypsiesencampedonMondaynightwithinamileofthespotwherethemurdertookplace.OnTuesdaytheyweregone.Now,presumingthattherewassomeunderstandingbetweenSimpsonandthesegypsies,mighthenothavebeenleadingthehorsetothemwhenhewasovertaken,andmaytheynothavehimnow?”
“Itiscertainlypossible.”
“Themoorisbeingscouredforthesegypsies.Ihavealsoexaminedeverystableandout-houseinTavistock,andforaradiusoftenmiles.”
“Thereisanothertraining-stablequiteclose,Iunderstand?”
“Yes,andthatisafactorwhichwemustcertainlynotneglect.AsDesborough,theirhorse,wassecondinthebetting,theyhadaninterestinthedisappearanceofthefavourite.SilasBrown,thetrainer,isknowntohavehadlargebetsupontheevent,andhewasnofriendtopoorStraker.Wehave,however,examinedthestables,andthereisnothingtoconnecthimwiththeaffair.”
“AndnothingtoconnectthismanSimpsonwiththeinterestsoftheMapletonstables?”
“Nothingatall.”
Holmesleanedbackinthecarriage,andtheconversationceased.Afewminuteslaterourdriverpulledupataneatlittlered-brickvillawithoverhangingeaveswhichstoodbytheroad.Somedistanceoff,acrossapaddock,layalonggrey-tiledout-building.Ineveryotherdirectionthelowcurvesofthemoor,bronze-colouredfromthefadingferns,stretchedawaytothesky-line,brokenonlybythesteeplesofTavistock,andbyaclusterofhousesawaytothewestwardwhichmarkedtheMapletonstables.WeallsprangoutwiththeexceptionofHolmes,whocontinuedtoleanbackwithhiseyesfixedupontheskyinfrontofhim,entirelyabsorbedinhisownthoughts.ItwasonlywhenItouchedhisarmthatherousedhimselfwithaviolentstartandsteppedoutofthecarriage.
“Excuseme,”saidhe,turningtoColonelRoss,whohadlookedathiminsomesurprise.“Iwasday-dreaming.”Therewasagleaminhiseyesandasuppressedexcitementinhismannerwhichconvincedme,usedasIwastohisways,thathishandwasuponaclue,thoughIcouldnotimaginewherehehadfoundit.
“Perhapsyouwouldpreferatoncetogoontothesceneofthecrime,Mr.Holmes?”saidGregory.
“IthinkthatIshouldprefertostayherealittleandgointooneortwoquestionsofdetail.Strakerwasbroughtbackhere,Ipresume?”
“Yesheliesupstairs.Theinquestisto-morrow.”
“Hehasbeeninyourservicesomeyears,ColonelRoss?”
“Ihavealwaysfoundhimanexcellentservant.”
“Ipresumethatyoumadeaninventoryofwhathehadinhispocketsatthetimeofhisdeath,Inspector?”
“Ihavethethingsthemselvesinthesitting-room,ifyouwouldcaretoseethem.”
“Ishouldbeveryglad.”WeallfiledintothefrontroomandsatroundthecentraltablewhiletheInspectorunlockedasquaretinboxandlaidasmallheapofthingsbeforeus.Therewasaboxofvestas,twoinchesoftallowcandle,anA.D.P.briar-rootpipe,apouchofseal-skinwithhalfanounceoflong-cutCavendish,asilverwatchwithagoldchain,fivesovereignsingold,analuminiumpencil-case,afewpapers,andanivory-handledknifewithaverydelicate,inflexibleblademarkedWeiss&Co.,London.
“Thisisaverysingularknife,”saidHolmes,liftingitupandexaminingitminutely.“Ipresume,asIseeblood-stainsuponit,thatitistheonewhichwasfoundinthedeadman’sgrasp.Watson,thisknifeissurelyinyourline?”
“Itiswhatwecallacataractknife,”saidI.
“Ithoughtso.Averydelicatebladedevisedforverydelicatework.Astrangethingforamantocarrywithhimuponaroughexpedition,especiallyasitwouldnotshutinhispocket.”
“Thetipwasguardedbyadiskofcorkwhichwefoundbesidehisbody,”saidtheInspector.“Hiswifetellsusthattheknifehadlainuponthedressing-table,andthathehadpickeditupashelefttheroom.Itwasapoorweapon,butperhapsthebestthathecouldlayhishandsonatthemoment.”
“Verypossible.Howaboutthesepapers?”
“Threeofthemarereceiptedhay-dealers’accounts.OneofthemisaletterofinstructionsfromColonelRoss.Thisotherisamilliner’saccountforthirty-sevenpoundsfifteenmadeoutbyMadameLesurier,ofBondStreet,toWilliamDerbyshire.Mrs.StrakertellsusthatDerbyshirewasafriendofherhusband’sandthatoccasionallyhisletterswereaddressedhere.”
“MadamDerbyshirehadsomewhatexpensivetastes,”remarkedHolmes,glancingdowntheaccount.“Twenty-twoguineasisratherheavyforasinglecostume.Howeverthereappearstobenothingmoretolearn,andwemaynowgodowntothesceneofthecrime.”
Asweemergedfromthesitting-roomawoman,whohadbeenwaitinginthepassage,tookastepforwardandlaidherhandupontheInspector’ssleeve.Herfacewashaggardandthinandeager,stampedwiththeprintofarecenthorror.
“Haveyougotthem?Haveyoufoundthem?”shepanted.
“No,Mrs.Straker.ButMr.HolmesherehascomefromLondontohelpus,andweshalldoallthatisposs