lucky," he said, and not another word would he utter that
night.

Chapter 7

The Solution

Next morning, after breakfast, we found Inspector MacDonald and White
Mason seated in close consultation in the small parlour of the local
police sergeant. On the table in front of them were piled a number of
letters and telegrams, which they were carefully sorting and docketing.
Three had been placed on one side.

"Still on the track of the elusive bicyclist?" Holmes asked cheerfully.
"What is the latest news of the ruffian?"

MacDonald pointed ruefully to his heap of correspondence.

"He is at present reported from Leicester, Nottingham, Southampton,
Derby, East Ham, Richmond, and fourteen other places. In three of
them--East Ham, Leicester, and Liverpool--there is a clear case against
him, and he has 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."

"But this cyclist. He is not an invention. We have his description, his
valise, his bicycle. The fellow must be somewhere. Why should we not
get him?"

"Yes, yes, no doubt he is somewhere, and no doubt we shall get him; but
I would not have you waste your energies in East Ham or Liverpool. I am
sure that we can find some shorter cut to a result."

"You are holding something back. It's hardly fair of you, Mr. Holmes."
The inspector was annoyed.

"You know my methods of work, Mr. Mac. But I will hold it back for the
shortest time possible. I onl