"Well, we are quite in your hands, Mr. Holmes," said old Cunningham."Anything which you or the Inspector may suggest will most certainly bedone."
"In the first place," said Holmes, "I should like you to offer areward--coming from yourself, for the officials may take a little timebefore they would agree upon the sum, and these things cannot be donetoo promptly. I have jotted down the form here, if you would not mindsigning it. Fifty pounds was quite enough, I thought."
"I would willingly give five hundred," said the J.P., taking the slipof paper and the pencil which Holmes handed to him. "This is not quitecorrect, however," he added, glancing over the document.
"I wrote it rather hurriedly."
"You see you begin, 'Whereas, at about a quarter to one on Tuesdaymorning an attempt was made,' and so on. It was at a quarter to twelve,as a matter of fact."
I was pained at the mistake, for I knew how keenly Holmes would feel anyslip of the kind. It was his specialty to be accurate as to fact, buthis recent illness had shaken him, and this one little incident wasenough to show me that he was still far from being himself. He wasobviously embarrassed for an instant, while the Inspector raised hiseyebrows, and Alec Cunningham burst into a laugh. The old gentlemancorrected the mistake, however, and handed the paper back to Holmes.
"Get it printed as soon as possible," he said; "I think your idea is anexcellent one."
Holmes put the slip of paper carefully away into his pocket-book.
"And now," said he, "it really would be a good thing that we should allgo over the house together and make certain that this rather erraticburglar did not, after all, carry anything away with him."
Before entering, Holmes made an examination of the door which had beenforced. It was evident that a chisel or strong knife had been thrustin, and the lock forced back with it. We could see the marks in the woodwhere it had been pushed in.
"You don't use bars, then?" he asked.
"We have never found it necessary."
"You don't keep a dog?"
"Yes, but he is chained on the other side of the house."
"When do the servants go to bed?"
"About ten."
"I understand that William was usually in bed also at that hour."
"Yes."
"It is singular that on this particular night he should have been up.Now, I should be very glad if you would have the kindness to show usover the house, Mr. Cunningham."
A stone-flagged passage, with the kitchens branching away from it, ledby a wooden staircase directly to the first floor of the house. It cameout upon the landing opposite to a second more ornamental stair whichcame up from the front hall. Out of this landing opened the drawing-roomand several bedrooms, including those of Mr. Cunningham and his son.Holmes walked slowly, taking keen note of the architecture of the house.I could tell from his expression that he was on a hot scent, and yetI could not in the least imagine in what direction his inferences wereleading him.
"My good sir," said Mr. Cunningham with some impatience, "this is surelyvery unnecessary. That is my room at the end of the stairs, and myson's is the one beyond it. I leave it to your judgment whether it waspossible for the thief to have come up here without disturbing us."
"You must try round and get on a fresh scent, I fancy," said the sonwith a rather malicious smile.
"Still, I must ask you to humor me a little further. I should like, forexample, to see how far the windows of the bedrooms command the front.This, I understand is your son's room"--he pushed open the door--"andthat, I presume, is the dressing-room in which he sat smoking when thealarm was given. Where does the window of that look out to?" He steppedacross the bedroom, pushed open the door, and glanced round the otherchamber.
"I hope that you are satisfied now?" said Mr. Cunningham, tartly.
"Thank you, I think I have seen all that I wished."
"Then if it is really necessary we can go into my room."
"If it is not too much trouble."
The J. P. shrugged his shoulders, and led the way into his own chamber,which was a plainly furnished and commonplace room. As we moved acrossit in the direction of the window, Holmes fell back until he and I werethe last of the group. Near the foot of the bed stood a dish of orangesand a carafe of water. As we passed it Holmes, to my unutterableastonishment, leaned over in front of me and deliberately knocked thewhole thing over. The glass smashed into a thousand pieces and the fruitrolled about into every corner of the room.
"You've done it now, Watson," said he, coolly. "A pretty mess you'vemade of the carpet."
I stooped in some confusion and began to pick up the fruit,understanding for some reason my companion desired me to take the blameupon myself. The others did the same, and set the table on its legsagain.