Chapter 13. Fixing the Nets

gupthedrive. “Yes,weshouldhaveafulldaytoday,”heremarked,andherubbedhishandswiththejoyofaction.“Thenetsareallinplace,andthedragisabouttobegin.We’llknowbeforethedayisoutwhetherwehavecaughtourbig,lean-jawedpike,orwhetherhehasgotthroughthemeshes.” “Haveyoubeenonthemooralready?” “IhavesentareportfromGrimpentoPrincetownastothedeathofSelden.IthinkIcanpromisethatnoneofyouwillbetroubledinthematter.AndIhavealsocommunicatedwithmyfaithfulCartwright,whowouldcertainlyhavepinedawayatthedoorofmyhut,asadogdoesathismaster’sgrave,ifIhadnotsethismindatrestaboutmysafety.” “Whatisthenextmove?” “ToseeSirHenry.Ah,hereheis!” “Good-morning,Holmes,”saidthebaronet.“Youlooklikeageneralwhoisplanningabattlewithhischiefofthestaff.” “Thatistheexactsituation.Watsonwasaskingfororders.” “AndsodoI.” “Verygood.Youareengaged,asIunderstand,todinewithourfriendstheStapletonstonight.” “Ihopethatyouwillcomealso.Theyareveryhospitablepeople,andIamsurethattheywouldbeverygladtoseeyou.” “IfearthatWatsonandImustgotoLondon.” “ToLondon?” “Yes,Ithinkthatweshouldbemoreusefulthereatthepresentjuncture.” Thebaronet’sfaceperceptiblylengthened. “Ihopedthatyouweregoingtoseemethroughthisbusiness.TheHallandthemoorarenotverypleasantplaceswhenoneisalone.” “Mydearfellow,youmusttrustmeimplicitlyanddoexactlywhatItellyou.Youcantellyourfriendsthatweshouldhavebeenhappytohavecomewithyou,butthaturgentbusinessrequiredustobeintown.WehopeverysoontoreturntoDevonshire.Willyouremembertogivethemthatmessage?” “Ifyouinsistuponit.” “Thereisnoalternative,Iassureyou.” Isawbythebaronet’scloudedbrowthathewasdeeplyhurtbywhatheregardedasourdesertion. “Whendoyoudesiretogo?”heaskedcoldly. “Immediatelyafterbreakfast.WewilldriveintoCoombeTracey,butWatsonwillleavehisthingsasapledgethathewillcomebacktoyou.Watson,youwillsendanotetoStapletontotellhimthatyouregretthatyoucannotcome.” “IhaveagoodmindtogotoLondonwithyou,”saidthebaronet.“WhyshouldIstayherealone?” “Becauseitisyourpostofduty.Becauseyougavemeyourwordthatyouwoulddoasyouweretold,andItellyoutostay.” “Allright,then,I’llstay.” “Onemoredirection!IwishyoutodrivetoMerripitHouse.Sendbackyourtrap,however,andletthemknowthatyouintendtowalkhome.” “Towalkacrossthemoor?” “Yes.” “Butthatistheverythingwhichyouhavesooftencautionedmenottodo.” “Thistimeyoumaydoitwithsafety.IfIhadnoteveryconfidenceinyournerveandcourageIwouldnotsuggestit,butitisessentialthatyoushoulddoit.” “ThenIwilldoit.” “AndasyouvalueyourlifedonotgoacrossthemoorinanydirectionsavealongthestraightpathwhichleadsfromMerripitHousetotheGrimpenRoad,andisyournaturalwayhome.” “Iwilldojustwhatyousay.” “Verygood.Ishouldbegladtogetawayassoonafterbreakfastaspossible,soastoreachLondonintheafternoon.” Iwasmuchastoundedbythisprogramme,thoughIrememberedthatHolmeshadsaidtoStapletononthenightbeforethathisvisitwouldterminatenextday.Ithadnotcrossedmymindhowever,thathewouldwishmetogowithhim,norcouldIunderstandhowwecouldbothbeabsentatamomentwhichhehimselfdeclaredtobecritical.Therewasnothingforit,however,butimplicitobediencesow