Page:The Valley of Fear.pdf/123

Rh By the way, you have that big umbrella of yours, have you not?”

“It is here.”

“Well, I’ll borrow that if I may.”

“Certainly—but what a wretched weapon! If there is danger”

“Nothing serious, my dear Watson, or I should certainly ask for your assistance. But I’ll take the umbrella. At present I am only awaiting the return of our colleagues from Tunbridge Wells, where they are at present engaged in trying for a likely owner to the bicycle.”

It was nightfall before Inspector MacDonald and White Mason came back from their expedition, and they arrived exultant, reporting a great advance in our investigation.

“Man, I’ll admeet that I had my doubts if there was ever an outsider,” said MacDonald; “but that’s all past now. We’ve had the bicycle identified, and we have a description of our man; so that’s a long step on our journey.”

“It sounds to me like the beginning of the end,” said Holmes. “I’m sure I congratulate you both with all my heart.”

“Well, I started from the fact that Mr. Doug- [121]