The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Part 16 (2/2)
”Who was the crientleman I describe”
”But who is he?”
”Surely it would not be difficult to find out This is not such a populous neighbourhood”
Lestrade shrugged his shoulders ”I am a practical o about the country looking for a left-handed gentle-stock of Scotland Yard”
”All right,” said Holiven you the chance
Here are your lodgings Good-bye I shall drop you a line before I leave”
Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where we found lunch upon the table Holht with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds hi position
”Look here, Watson,” he said when the cloth was cleared ”just sit down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little I don't know quite what to do, and I should value your advice Light a cigar and let me expound”
”Pray do so”
”Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, although they iainst hi to his account, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing hi reference to a rat He mumbled several words, you understand, but that was all that caught the son's ear Now from this double point our researchthat what the lad says is absolutely true”
”What of this 'Cooee!' then?”
”Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son The son, as far as he kneas in Bristol It was mere chance that he ithin earshot The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with But 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used between Australians There is a strong presumption that the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Bosob Pool was someone who had been in Australia”
”What of the rat, then?”
Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened it out on the table ”This is a map of the Colony of Victoria,”
he said ”I wired to Bristol for it last night” He put his hand over part of the map ”What do you read?”
”ARAT,” I read
”And now?” He raised his hand
”BALLARAT”
”Quite so That was the word the ht the last two syllables He was trying to utter the name of his murderer So and so, of Ballarat”
”It is wonderful!” I exclaimed
”It is obvious And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down considerably The possession of a grey gar the son's statement to be correct, was a certainty We have coueness to the definite conception of an Australian frorey cloak”
”Certainly”
”And one as at home in the district, for the pool can only be approached by the farers could hardly wander”
”Quite so”