"Does your explanation cover every point?"
"Undoubtedly. I find that young Neligan arrived at the Brambletye Hotelon the very day of the crime. He came on the pretence of playing golf.His room was on the ground-floor, and he could get out when he liked.That very night he went down to Woodman's Lee, saw Peter Carey atthe hut, quarrelled with him, and killed him with the harpoon. Then,horrified by what he had done, he fled out of the hut, dropping thenote-book which he had brought with him in order to question Peter Careyabout these different securities. You may have observed that some ofthem were marked with ticks, and the others--the great majority--werenot. Those which are ticked have been traced on the London market; butthe others presumably were still in the possession of Carey, and youngNeligan, according to his own account, was anxious to recover them inorder to do the right thing by his father's creditors. After his flighthe did not dare to approach the hut again for some time; but at lasthe forced himself to do so in order to obtain the information which heneeded. Surely that is all simple and obvious?"
Holmes smiled and shook his head.
"It seems to me to have only one drawback, Hopkins, and that is that itis intrinsically impossible. Have you tried to drive a harpoon through abody? No? Tut, tut, my dear sir, you must really pay attention to thesedetails. My friend Watson could tell you that I spent a whole morning inthat exercise. It is no easy matter, and requires a strong and practisedarm. But this blow was delivered with such violence that the head of theweapon sank deep into the wall. Do you imagine that this anaemic youthwas capable of so frightful an assault? Is he the man who hobnobbedin rum and water with Black Peter in the dead of the night? Was it hisprofile that was seen on the blind two nights before? No, no, Hopkins;it is another and a more formidable person for whom we must seek."
The detective's face had grown longer and longer during Holmes's speech.His hopes and his ambitions were all crumbling about him. But he wouldnot abandon his position without a struggle.
"You can't deny that Neligan was present that night, Mr. Holmes. Thebook will prove that. I fancy that I have evidence enough to satisfy ajury, even if you are able to pick a hole in it. Besides, Mr. Holmes,I have laid my hand upon MY man. As to this terrible person of yours,where is he?"
"I rather fancy that he is on the stair," said Holmes, serenely. "Ithink, Watson, that you would do well to put that revolver where you canreach it." He rose, and laid a written paper upon a side-table. "Now weare ready," said he.
There had been some talking in gruff voices outside, and now Mrs. Hudsonopened the door to say that there were three men inquiring for Cap
tainBasil.
"Show them in one by one," said Holmes.
The first who entered was a little ribston-pippin of a man, with ruddycheeks and fluffy white side-whiskers. Holmes had drawn a letter fromhis pocket.
"What name?" he asked.
"James Lancaster."
"I am sorry, Lancaster, but the berth is full. Here is half a sovereignfor your trouble. Just step into this room and wait there for a fewminutes."
The second man was a long, dried-up creature, with lank hair and sallowcheeks. His name was Hugh Pattins. He also received his dismissal, hishalf-sovereign, and the order to wait.
The third applicant was a man of remarkable appearance. A fiercebull-dog face was framed in a tangle of hair and beard, and two bolddark eyes gleamed behind the cover of thick, tufted, overhung eyebrows.He saluted and stood sailor-fashion, turning his cap round in his hands.
"Your name?" asked Holmes.
"Patrick Cairns."
"Harpooner?"
"Yes, sir. Twenty-six voyages."
"Dundee, I suppose?"
"Yes, sir."
"And ready to start with an exploring ship?"
"Yes, sir."
"What wages?"
"Eight pounds a month."
"Could you start at once?"
"As soon as I get my kit."
"Have you your papers?"
"Yes, sir." He took a sheaf of worn and greasy forms from his pocket.Holmes glanced over them and returned them.