He took a small piece of torn paper from a note-book and spread it outupon his knee.
"This was found between the finger and thumb of the dead man. It appearsto be a fragment torn from a larger sheet. You will observe that thehour mentioned upon it is the very time at which the poor fellow met hisfate. You see that his murderer might have torn the rest of the sheetfrom him or he might have taken this fragment from the murderer. Itreads almost as though it were an appointment."
Holmes took up the scrap of paper, a fac-simile of which is herereproduced.
at quarter to twelve learn what maybe
"Presuming that it is an appointment," continued the Inspector, "it isof course a conceivable theory that this William Kirwan--though he hadthe reputation of being an honest man, may have been in league with thethief. He may have met him there, may even have helped him to break inthe door, and then they may have fallen out between themselves."
"This writing is of extraordinary interest," said Holmes, who had beenexamining it with intense concentration. "These are much deeper watersthan I had thought." He sank his head upon his hands, while the Inspectorsmiled at the effect which his case had had upon the famous Londonspecialist.
"Your last remark," said Holmes, presently, "as to the possibility ofthere being an understanding between the burglar and the servant, andthis being a note of appointment from one to the other, is an ingeniousand not entirely impossible supposition. But this writing opens up--" Hesank his head into his hands again and remained for some minutes in thedeepest thought. When he raised his face again, I was surprised to seethat his cheek was tinged with color, and his eyes as bright as beforehis illness. He sprang to his feet with all his old energy.
"I'll tell you what," said he, "I should like to have a quiet littleglance into the details of this case. There is something in it whichfascinates me extremely. If you will permit me, Colonel, I will leave myfriend Watson and you, and I will step round with the Inspector to testthe truth of one or two little fancies of mine. I will be with you againin half an hour."
An hour and half had elapsed before the Inspector returned alone.
"Mr. Holmes is walking up and down in the field outside," said he. "Hewants us all four to go up to the house together."
"To Mr. Cunningham's?"
"Yes, sir."
"What for?"
The Inspector shrugged his shoulders. "I don't quite know, sir. Betweenourselves, I think Mr. Holmes had not quite got over his illness yet.He's been behaving very queerly, and he is very much excited."
"I don't think you need alarm yourself," said I. "I have usually foundthat there was method in his madness."
"Some folks might say there was madness in his method," muttered theInspector. "But he's all on fire to start, Colonel, so we had best goout if you are ready."
We found Holmes pacing up and down in the field, his chin sunk upon hisbreast, and his hands thrust into his trousers pockets.
"The matter grows in interest," said he. "Watson, your country-trip hasbeen a distinct success. I have had a charming morning."
"You have been up to the scene of the crime, I understand," said theColonel.
"Yes; the Inspector and I have made quite a little reconnaissancetogether."
"Any success?"
"Well, we have seen some very interesting things. I'll tell you what wedid as we walk. First of all, we saw the body of this unfortunate man.He certainly died from a revolver wound as reported."
"Had you doubted it, then?"
"Oh, it is as well to test everything. Our inspection was not wasted. Wethen had an interview with Mr. Cunningham and his son, who were ableto point out the exact spot where the murderer had broken through thegarden-hedge in his flight. That was of great interest."
"Naturally."
"Then we had a look at this poor fellow's mother. We could get noinformation from her, however, as she is very old and feeble."
"And what is the result of your investigations?"
"The conviction that the crime is a very peculiar one. Perhaps our visitnow may do something to make it less obscure. I think that we are bothagreed, Inspector that the fragment of paper in the dead man's hand,bearing, as it does, the very hour of his death written upon it, is ofextreme importance."
"It should give a clue, Mr. Holmes."
"It does give a clue. Whoever wrote that note was the man who broughtWilliam Kirwan out of his bed at that hour. But where is the rest ofthat sheet of paper?"