Chapter 8. First Report of Dr. Watson
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eclarethatapathhasexistedtherefromtimeimmemorial,defyingtheownertoprosecutehimfortrespass.Heislearnedinoldmanorialandcommunalrights,andheapplieshisknowledgesometimesinfavourofthevillagersofFernworthyandsometimesagainstthem,sothatheisperiodicallyeithercarriedintriumphdownthevillagestreetorelseburnedineffigy,accordingtohislatestexploit.Heissaidtohaveaboutsevenlawsuitsuponhishandsatpresent,whichwillprobablyswallowuptheremainderofhisfortuneandsodrawhisstingandleavehimharmlessforthefuture.Apartfromthelawheseemsakindly,good-naturedperson,andIonlymentionhimbecauseyouwereparticularthatIshouldsendsomedescriptionofthepeoplewhosurroundus.Heiscuriouslyemployedatpresent,for,beinganamateurastronomer,hehasanexcellenttelescope,withwhichheliesupontheroofofhisownhouseandsweepsthemooralldayinthehopeofcatchingaglimpseoftheescapedconvict.Ifhewouldconfinehisenergiestothisallwouldbewell,buttherearerumoursthatheintendstoprosecuteDr.MortimerforopeningagravewithouttheconsentofthenextofkinbecauseheduguptheNeolithicskullinthebarrowonLongDown.Hehelpstokeepourlivesfrombeingmonotonousandgivesalittlecomicreliefwhereitisbadlyneeded.
Andnow,havingbroughtyouuptodateintheescapedconvict,theStapletons,Dr.Mortimer,andFrankland,ofLafterHall,letmeendonthatwhichismostimportantandtellyoumoreabouttheBarrymores,andespeciallyaboutthesurprisingdevelopmentoflastnight.
Firstofallaboutthetesttelegram,whichyousentfromLondoninordertomakesurethatBarrymorewasreallyhere.Ihavealreadyexplainedthatthetestimonyofthepostmastershowsthatthetestwasworthlessandthatwehavenoproofonewayortheother.ItoldSirHenryhowthematterstood,andheatonce,inhisdownrightfashion,hadBarrymoreupandaskedhimwhetherhehadreceivedthetelegramhimself.Barrymoresaidthathehad.
“Didtheboydeliveritintoyourownhands?”askedSirHenry.
Barrymorelookedsurprised,andconsideredforalittletime.
“No,”saidhe,“Iwasinthebox-roomatthetime,andmywifebroughtituptome.”
“Didyouanswerityourself?”
“NoItoldmywifewhattoanswerandshewentdowntowriteit.”
Intheeveningherecurredtothesubjectofhisownaccord.
“Icouldnotquiteunderstandtheobjectofyourquestionsthismorning,SirHenry,”saidhe.“ItrustthattheydonotmeanthatIhavedoneanythingtoforfeityourconfidence?”
SirHenryhadtoassurehimthatitwasnotsoandpacifyhimbygivinghimaconsiderablepartofhisoldwardrobe,theLondonoutfithavingnowallarrived.
Mrs.Barrymoreisofinteresttome.Sheisaheavy,solidperson,verylimited,intenselyrespectable,andinclinedtobepu