The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle (ereader manga TXT) ๐
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- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
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โBefore this avenger got away, Barker and the wife had reached the room. The assassin convinced them that any attempt to arrest him would lead to the publication of some hideous scandal. They were converted to this idea, and preferred to let him go. For this purpose they probably lowered the bridge, which can be done quite noiselessly, and then raised it again. He made his escape, and for some reason thought that he could do so more safely on foot than on the bicycle. He therefore left his machine where it would not be discovered until he had got safely away. So far we are within the bounds of possibility, are we not?โ
โWell, it is possible, no doubt,โ said I, with some reserve.
โWe have to remember, Watson, that whatever occurred is certainly something very extraordinary. Well, now, to continue our supposititious case, the coupleโnot necessarily a guilty coupleโrealize after the murderer is gone that they have placed themselves in a position in which it may be difficult for them to prove that they did not themselves either do the deed or connive at it. They rapidly and rather clumsily met the situation. The mark was put by Barker's bloodstained slipper upon the windowsill to suggest how the fugitive got away. They obviously were the two who must have heard the sound of the gun; so they gave the alarm exactly as they would have done, but a good half hour after the event.โ
โAnd how do you propose to prove all this?โ
โWell, if there were an outsider, he may be traced and taken. That would be the most effective of all proofs. But if notโwell, the resources of science are far from being exhausted. I think that an evening alone in that study would help me much.โ
โAn evening alone!โ
โI propose to go up there presently. I have arranged it with the estimable Ames, who is by no means wholehearted about Barker. I shall sit in that room and see if its atmosphere brings me inspiration. I'm a believer in the genius loci. You smile, Friend Watson. Well, we shall see. By the way, you have that big umbrella of yours, have you not?โ
โIt is here.โ
โWell, I'll borrow that if I may.โ
โCertainlyโbut what a wretched weapon! If there is dangerโโ
โNothing serious, my dear Watson, or I should certainly ask for your assistance. But I'll take the umbrella. At present I am only awaiting the return of our colleagues from Tunbridge Wells, where they are at present engaged in trying for a likely owner to the bicycle.โ
It was nightfall before Inspector MacDonald and White Mason came back from their expedition, and they arrived exultant, reporting a great advance in our investigation.
โMan, I'll admeet that I had my doubts if there was ever an outsider,โ said MacDonald, โbut that's all past now. We've had the bicycle identified, and we have a description of our man; so that's a long step on our journey.โ
โIt sounds to me like the beginning of the end,โ said Holmes. โI'm sure I congratulate you both with all my heart.โ
โWell, I started from the fact that Mr. Douglas had seemed disturbed since the day before, when he had been at Tunbridge Wells. It was at Tunbridge Wells then that he had become conscious of some danger. It was clear, therefore, that if a man had come over with a bicycle it was from Tunbridge Wells that he might be expected to have come. We took the bicycle over with us and showed it at the hotels. It was identified at once by the manager of the Eagle Commercial as belonging to a man named Hargrave, who had taken a room there two days before. This bicycle and a small valise were his whole belongings. He had registered his name as coming from London, but had given no address. The valise was London made, and the contents were British; but the man himself was undoubtedly an American.โ
โWell, well,โ said Holmes gleefully, โyou have indeed done some solid work while I have been sitting spinning theories with my friend! It's a lesson in being practical, Mr. Mac.โ
โAy, it's just that, Mr. Holmes,โ said the inspector with satisfaction.
โBut this may all fit in with your theories,โ I remarked.
โThat may or may not be. But let us hear the end, Mr. Mac. Was there nothing to identify this man?โ
โSo little that it was evident that he had carefully guarded himself against identification. There were no papers or letters, and no marking upon the clothes. A cycle map of the county lay on his bedroom table. He had left the hotel after breakfast yesterday morning on his bicycle, and no more was heard of him until our inquiries.โ
โThat's what puzzles me, Mr. Holmes,โ said White Mason. โIf the fellow did not want the hue and cry raised over him, one would imagine that he would have returned and remained at the hotel as an inoffensive tourist. As it is, he must know that he will be reported to the police by the hotel manager and that his disappearance will be connected with the murder.โ
โSo one would imagine. Still, he has been justified of his wisdom up to date, at any rate, since he has not been taken. But his descriptionโwhat of that?โ
MacDonald referred to his notebook. โHere we have it so far as they could give it. They don't seem to have taken any very particular stock of him; but still the porter, the clerk, and the chambermaid are all agreed that this about covers the points. He was a man about five foot nine in height, fifty or so years of age, his hair slightly grizzled, a grayish moustache, a curved nose, and a face which all of them described as fierce and forbidding.โ
โWell, bar the expression, that might almost be a description of Douglas himself,โ said Holmes. โHe is just over fifty, with grizzled hair and moustache, and about the same height. Did you get anything else?โ
โHe was dressed in a heavy gray suit with a reefer jacket, and he wore a short yellow overcoat and a soft cap.โ
โWhat about the shotgun?โ
โIt is less than two feet long. It could very well have fitted into his valise. He could have carried it inside his overcoat without difficulty.โ
โAnd how do you consider that all this bears upon the general case?โ
โWell, Mr. Holmes,โ said MacDonald, โwhen we have got our manโand you may be sure that I had his description on the wires within five minutes of hearing itโwe shall be better able to judge. But, even as it stands, we have surely gone a long way. We know that an American calling himself Hargrave came to Tunbridge Wells two days ago with bicycle and valise. In the latter was a sawed-off shotgun; so he came with the deliberate purpose of crime. Yesterday morning he set off for this place on his bicycle, with his gun concealed in his overcoat. No one saw him arrive, so far as we can learn; but he need not pass through the village to reach the park gates, and there are many cyclists upon the road.
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