The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes | Page 5

town of Tavistock, which
lies, like the boss of a shield, in the middle of the huge circle of
Dartmoor. Two gentlemen were awaiting us in the station--the one a
tall, fair man with lion-like hair and beard and curiously penetrating
light blue eyes; the other a small, alert person, very neat and dapper, in
a frock-coat and gaiters, with trim little side-whiskers and an eye-glass.
The latter was Colonel Ross, the well-known sportsman; the other,
Inspector Gregory, a man who was rapidly making his name in the
English detective service.
"I am delighted that you have come down, Mr. Holmes," said the

Colonel. "The Inspector here has done all that could possibly be
suggested, but I wish to leave no stone unturned in trying to avenge
poor Straker and in recovering my horse."
"Have there been any fresh developments?" asked Holmes.
"I am sorry to say that we have made very little progress," said the
Inspector. "We have an open carriage outside, and as you would no
doubt like to see the place before the light fails, we might talk it over as
we drive."
A minute later we were all seated in a comfortable landau, and were
rattling through the quaint old Devonshire city. Inspector Gregory was
full of his case, and poured out a stream of remarks, while Holmes
threw in an occasional question or interjection. Colonel Ross leaned
back with his arms folded and his hat tilted over his eyes, while I
listened with interest to the dialogue of the two detectives. Gregory was
formulating his theory, which was almost exactly what Holmes had
foretold in the train.
"The net is drawn pretty close round Fitzroy Simpson," he remarked,
"and I believe myself that he is our man. At the same time I recognize
that the evidence is purely circumstantial, and that some new
development may upset it."
"How about Straker's knife?"
"We have quite come to the conclusion that he wounded himself in his
fall."
"My friend Dr. Watson made that suggestion to me as we came down.
If so, it would tell against this man Simpson."
"Undoubtedly. He has neither a knife nor any sign of a wound. The
evidence against him is certainly very strong. He had a great interest in
the disappearance of the favorite. He lies under suspicion of having
poisoned the stable-boy, he was undoubtedly out in the storm, he was
armed with a heavy stick, and his cravat was found in the dead man's

hand. I really think we have enough to go before a jury."
Holmes shook his head. "A clever counsel would tear it all to rags,"
said he. "Why should he take the horse out of the stable? If he wished
to injure it why could he not do it there? Has a duplicate key been
found in his possession? What chemist sold him the powdered opium?
Above all, where could he, a stranger to the district, hide a horse, and
such a horse as this? What is his own explanation as to the paper which
he wished the maid to give to the stable-boy?"
"He says that it was a ten-pound note. One was found in his purse. But
your other difficulties are not so formidable as they seem. He is not a
stranger to the district. He has twice lodged at Tavistock in the summer.
The opium was probably brought from London. The key, having served
its purpose, would be hurled away. The horse may be at the bottom of
one of the pits or old mines upon the moor."
"What does he say about the cravat?"
"He acknowledges that it is his, and declares that he had lost it. But a
new element has been introduced into the case which may account for
his leading the horse from the stable."
Holmes pricked up his ears.
"We have found traces which show that a party of gypsies encamped on
Monday night within a mile of the spot where the murder took place.
On Tuesday they were gone. Now, presuming that there was some
understanding between Simpson and these gypsies, might he not have
been leading the horse to them when he was overtaken, and may they
not have him now?"
"It is certainly possible."
"The moor is being scoured for these gypsies. I have also examined
every stable and out-house in Tavistock, and for a radius of ten miles."
"There is another training-stable quite close, I understand?"

"Yes, and that is a factor which we must certainly not neglect. As
Desborough, their horse, was second in the betting, they had an interest
in the disappearance of the favorite. Silas Brown, the trainer, is known
to have had large bets upon the event, and he was no friend to poor
Straker. We have, however, examined the stables, and