The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes | Page 9

tricks, now, or--"
"Oh, you can trust me, you can trust me!"
"Yes, I think I can. Well, you shall hear from me to-morrow." He
turned upon his heel, disregarding the trembling hand which the other

held out to him, and we set off for King's Pyland.
"A more perfect compound of the bully, coward, and sneak than Master
Silas Brown I have seldom met with," remarked Holmes as we trudged
along together.
"He has the horse, then?"
"He tried to bluster out of it, but I described to him so exactly what his
actions had been upon that morning that he is convinced that I was
watching him. Of course you observed the peculiarly square toes in the
impressions, and that his own boots exactly corresponded to them.
Again, of course no subordinate would have dared to do such a thing. I
described to him how, when according to his custom he was the first
down, he perceived a strange horse wandering over the moor. How he
went out to it, and his astonishment at recognizing, from the white
forehead which has given the favorite its name, that chance had put in
his power the only horse which could beat the one upon which he had
put his money. Then I described how his first impulse had been to lead
him back to King's Pyland, and how the devil had shown him how he
could hide the horse until the race was over, and how he had led it back
and concealed it at Mapleton. When I told him every detail he gave it
up and thought only of saving his own skin."
"But his stables had been searched?"
"Oh, an old horse-faker like him has many a dodge."
"But are you not afraid to leave the horse in his power now, since he
has every interest in injuring it?"
"My dear fellow, he will guard it as the apple of his eye. He knows that
his only hope of mercy is to produce it safe."
"Colonel Ross did not impress me as a man who would be likely to
show much mercy in any case."
"The matter does not rest with Colonel Ross. I follow my own methods,

and tell as much or as little as I choose. That is the advantage of being
unofficial. I don't know whether you observed it, Watson, but the
Colonel's manner has been just a trifle cavalier to me. I am inclined
now to have a little amusement at his expense. Say nothing to him
about the horse."
"Certainly not without your permission."
"And of course this is all quite a minor point compared to the question
of who killed John Straker."
"And you will devote yourself to that?"
"On the contrary, we both go back to London by the night train."
I was thunderstruck by my friend's words. We had only been a few
hours in Devonshire, and that he should give up an investigation which
he had begun so brilliantly was quite incomprehensible to me. Not a
word more could I draw from him until we were back at the trainer's
house. The Colonel and the Inspector were awaiting us in the parlor.
"My friend and I return to town by the night-express," said Holmes.
"We have had a charming little breath of your beautiful Dartmoor air."
The Inspector opened his eyes, and the Colonel's lip curled in a sneer.
"So you despair of arresting the murderer of poor Straker," said he.
Holmes shrugged his shoulders. "There are certainly grave difficulties
in the way," said he. "I have every hope, however, that your horse will
start upon Tuesday, and I beg that you will have your jockey in
readiness. Might I ask for a photograph of Mr. John Straker?"
The Inspector took one from an envelope and handed it to him.
"My dear Gregory, you anticipate all my wants. If I might ask you to
wait here for an instant, I have a question which I should like to put to
the maid."

"I must say that I am rather disappointed in our London consultant,"
said Colonel Ross, bluntly, as my friend left the room. "I do not see that
we are any further than when he came."
"At least you have his assurance that your horse will run," said I.
"Yes, I have his assurance," said the Colonel, with a shrug of his
shoulders. "I should prefer to have the horse."
I was about to make some reply in defence of my friend when he
entered the room again.
"Now, gentlemen," said he, "I am quite ready for Tavistock."
As we stepped into the carriage one of the stable-lads held the door
open for us. A sudden idea seemed to occur to Holmes, for he leaned
forward and touched the lad upon