Chapter 11. The Man on the Tor

obabilitywas,therefore,thatshewastellingthetruth,or,atleast,apartofthetruth.Icameawaybaffledanddisheartened.OnceagainIhadreachedthatdeadwallwhichseemedtobebuiltacrosseverypathbywhichItriedtogetattheobjectofmymission.AndyetthemoreIthoughtofthelady’sfaceandofhermannerthemoreIfeltthatsomethingwasbeingheldbackfromme.Whyshouldsheturnsopale?Whyshouldshefightagainsteveryadmissionuntilitwasforcedfromher?Whyshouldshehavebeensoreticentatthetimeofthetragedy?Surelytheexplanationofallthiscouldnotbeasinnocentasshewouldhavemebelieve.ForthemomentIcouldproceednofartherinthatdirection,butmustturnbacktothatothercluewhichwastobesoughtforamongthestonehutsuponthemoor. Andthatwasamostvaguedirection.IrealiseditasIdrovebackandnotedhowhillafterhillshowedtracesoftheancientpeople.Barrymore’sonlyindicationhadbeenthatthestrangerlivedinoneoftheseabandonedhuts,andmanyhundredsofthemarescatteredthroughoutthelengthandbreadthofthemoor.ButIhadmyownexperienceforaguidesinceithadshownmethemanhimselfstandinguponthesummitoftheBlackTor.That,then,shouldbethecentreofmysearch.FromthereIshouldexploreeveryhutuponthemooruntilIlightedupontherightone.IfthismanwereinsideitIshouldfindoutfromhisownlips,atthepointofmyrevolverifnecessary,whohewasandwhyhehaddoggedussolong.HemightslipawayfromusinthecrowdofRegentStreet,butitwouldpuzzlehimtodosouponthelonelymoor.Ontheotherhand,ifIshouldfindthehutanditstenantshouldnotbewithinitImustremainthere,howeverlongthevigil,untilhereturned.HolmeshadmissedhiminLondon.ItwouldindeedbeatriumphformeifIcouldrunhimtoearthwheremymasterhadfailed. Luckhadbeenagainstusagainandagaininthisinquiry,butnowatlastitcametomyaid.AndthemessengerofgoodfortunewasnoneotherthanMr.Frankland,whowasstanding,grey-whiskeredandred-faced,outsidethegateofhisgarden,whichopenedontothehighroadalongwhichItravelled. “Good-day,Dr.Watson,”criedhewithunwontedgoodhumour,“youmustreallygiveyourhorsesarestandcomeintohaveaglassofwineandtocongratulateme.” MyfeelingstowardshimwereveryfarfrombeingfriendlyafterwhatIhadheardofhistreatmentofhisdaughter,butIwasanxioustosendPerkinsandthewagonettehome,andtheopportunitywasagoodone.IalightedandsentamessagetoSirHenrythatIshouldwalkoverintimefordinner.ThenIfollowedFranklandintohisdining-room. “Itisagreatdayforme,sir—oneofthered-letterdaysofmylife,”hecriedwithmanychuckles.“Ihavebroughtoffadoubleevent.Imeantoteachtheminthesepartsthatlawislaw,andthatthereisamanherewhodoesnotfeartoinvokeit.IhaveestablishedarightofwaythroughthecentreofoldMiddleton’spark,slapacrossit,sir,withinahundredyardsofhisownfrontdoor.Whatdoyouthinkofthat?We’llteachthesemagnatesthattheycannotrideroughshodovertherightsofthecommoners,confoundthem!AndI’veclosedthewoodwheretheFernworthyfolkusedtopicnic.Theseinfernalpeopleseemtothinkthattherearenorightsofproperty,andthattheycanswarmwheretheylikewiththeirpapersandtheirbottles.Bothcasesdecided,Dr.Watson,andbothinmyfavour.Ihaven’thadsuchadaysinceIhadSirJohnMorlandfortrespassbecauseheshotinhisownwarren.” “Howonearthdidyoudothat?” “Lookitupinthebooks,sir.Itwillrepayreading—Franklandv.Morland,CourtofQueen’sBench.Itcostme￡200,butIgotmyverdict.” “Diditdoyouanygood?” “None,sir,none.IamproudtosaythatIhadnointerestinthematter.Iactentirelyfromasenseofpublicduty.Ihavenodoubt,forexample,thattheFernworthypeoplewillburnmeineffigytonight.Itoldthepolicelasttimetheydiditthattheyshouldstopthesedisgracefulexhibitions.TheCountyConstabularyisinascandalousstate,sir,andithasnotaffordedmetheprotectiontowhichIamentitled.ThecaseofFranklandv.Reginawillbringthematterbeforetheattentionofthepublic.Itoldthemthattheywouldhaveoccasiontoregrettheirtreatmentofme,andalreadymywordshavecometrue.” “Howso?”Iasked. Theoldmanputonaveryknowingexpression.“BecauseIcouldtellthemwhattheyaredyingtoknowbutnothingwouldinducemetohelptherascalsinanyway.” IhadbeencastingroundforsomeexcusebywhichIcouldgetawayfromhisgossip,butnowIbegantowishtohearmoreofit.Ihadseenenoughofthecontrarynatureoftheoldsinnertounderstandthatanystrongsignofinterestwouldbethesurestwaytostophiscon