Page:The Valley of Fear.pdf/132

Rh actually been arrested. The country seems to be full of the fugitives with yellow coats.”

“Dear me!” said Holmes sympathetically. “Now, Mr. Mac, and you, Mr. White Mason, I wish to give you a very earnest piece of advice. When I went into this case with you I bargained, as you will no doubt remember, that I should not present you with half-proved theories, but that I should retain and work out my own ideas until I had satisfied myself that they were correct. For this reason I am not at the present moment telling you all that is in my mind. On the other hand, I said that I would play the game fairly by you, and I do not think it is a fair game to allow you for one unnecessary moment to waste your energies upon a profitless task. Therefore I am here to advise you this morning, and my advice to you is summed up in three words,—abandon the case.”

MacDonald and White Mason stared in amazement at their celebrated colleague.

“You consider it hopeless!” cried the Inspector.

“I consider your case to be hopeless. I do not consider that it is hopeless to arrive at the truth.” [130]