"
"And how do you consider that all this bears upon the general
case?"
"Well, Mr. Holmes," said MacDonald, "when we have got our
man--and you may be sure that I had his description on the wires
within five minutes of hearing it--we shall be better able to
judge. But, even as it stands, we have surely gone a long way.
We know that an American calling himself Hargrave came to
Tunbridge Wells two days ago with bicycle and valise. In the
latter was a sawed-off shotgun; so he came with the deliberate
purpose of crime. Yesterday morning he set off for this place on
his bicycle, with his gun concealed in his overcoat. No one saw
him arrive, so far as we can learn; but he need not pass through
the village to reach the park gates, and there are many cyclists
upon the road. Presumably he at once concealed his cycle among
the laurels where it was found, and possibly lurked there
himself, with his eye on the house, waiting for Mr. Douglas to
come out. The shotgun is a strange weapon to use inside a house;
but he had intended to use it outside, and there it has very
obvious advantages, as it would be impossible to miss with it,
and the sound of shots is so common in an English sporting
neighbourhood that no particular notice would be taken.
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