Personally, he was
convinced that the murderer had escaped by the window. The
bloodstain was conclusive, in his opinion, on that point.
Besides, as the bridge was up, there was no other possible way of
escaping. He could not explain what had become of the assassin
or why he had not taken his bicycle, if it were indeed his. He
could not possibly have been drowned in the moat, which was at no
place more than three feet deep.
In his own mind he had a very definite theory about the murder.
Douglas was a reticent man, and there were some chapters in his
life of which he never spoke. He had emigrated to America when
he was a very young man. He had prospered well, and Barker had
first met him in California, where they had become partners in a
successful mining claim at a place called Benito Canon. They had
done very well; but Douglas had suddenly sold out and started for
England. He was a widower at that time. Barker had afterwards
realized his money and come to live in London. Thus they had
renewed their friendship.
Douglas had given him the impression that some danger was hanging
over his head, and he had always looked upon his sudden departure
from California, and also his renting a house in so quiet a place
in England, as being connected with this peril.
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