arkable. No doubt lunch
could be got at some suitable hostelry; though my ignorance of the
country prevents me from recommending one. In the evening, tired but
happy--"

"Man, this is getting past a joke!" cried MacDonald, rising angrily
from his chair.

"Well, well, spend the day as you like," said Holmes, patting him
cheerfully upon the shoulder. "Do what you like and go where you will,
but meet me here before dusk without fail--without fail, Mr. Mac."

"That sounds more like sanity."

"All of it was excellent advice; but I don't insist, so long as you are
here when I need you. But now, before we part, I want you to write a
note to Mr. Barker."

"Well?"

"I'll dictate it, if you like. Ready?

"Dear Sir:

"It has struck me that it is our duty to drain the moat, in
the hope that we may find some--"

"It's impossible," said the inspector. "I've made inquiry."

"Tut, tut! My dear sir, please do what I ask you."

"Well, go on."

"--in the hope that we may find something which may bear
upon our investigation. I have made arrangements, and the
workmen will be at work early to-morrow morning diverting
the stream--"

"Impossible!"

"--diverting the stream; so I thought it best to explain
matters beforehand.

"Now sign that, and send it by hand about four o'clock. At that hour we
shall meet again in this room. Until then we may each do what we like;
for I can assure you that this inquiry has come to a definite pause."

Evening was drawing in when we reassembled. Holmes was very serious in
his manner, myself curious, and the detectives obviously critical and
annoyed.

"Well, gentlemen," said my friend gravely, "I am asking you now to put
everything to the test with me, and you will judge for yourselves
whether the observations I have made justify the conclusions to which I
have come. It is a chill evening, and I do not know how long our
expedition may last; so I beg that you will wear your warmest coats. It
is of the first importance that we should be in our places before it
grows dark; so with your permission we shall get started at once."

We passed along the outer bounds of the Manor House park until we came
to a place where there was a gap in the rails which fenced it. Through
this we slipped, and then in the gathering gloom we followed Holmes
until we had reached a shrubbery which lies nearly opposite to the main
door and the drawbri