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Holmes
Sherlock
 

How Did He Get Back?

 
Sterndale sat down with a gasp, overawed for, perhaps, the first time in his adventurous life. There was a calm assurance and power in Holmes' manner which could not be withstood. Our visitor stammered for a moment, his great hands opening and shutting in his agitation.
  "What do you mean?" he asked, at last. "If this is a bluff upon your part, Mr Holmes, you have chosen a bad man for your experiment. Let us have no more beating about the bush. What do you mean?"
  "I will tell you", said Holmes, "and the reason why I tell you is that I hope frankness may beget frankness. What my next step may be will depend entirely upon the nature of your own defence."
  "My defence?"
  "Yes, sir."
  "My defence against what?"
  "Against the charge of killing Mortimer Tregennis."
  Sterndale mopped his forehead with a handkerchief. "Upon my word, you are getting on", said he. "Do all your successes depend upon this prodigious power of bluff?"
  "The bluff", said Holmes, sternly, "is upon you side, Dr Leon Sterndale. As a proof I will tell you some of the facts upon which my conclusions are based.  Of your return to England, allowing the ship to go on with much of your property to Africa, I will say nothing save that it first informed me that you were one of the actors that had to be taken into account in the reconstructing of this drama -"
  "Pure speculation!" exclaimed Sterndale with a shivering chin. 
  "Not so!" said Holmes sternly. "I saw you spying outside Tregennis' house five days ago and followed you back to your lodgings at the inn."
  "You followed me? I saw no one."
  "That is what you may expect to see when I follow you. You spent a restless night at your cottage, and you formed certain plans, which in the early morning you proceeded to put into execution. Leaving your door just as day was breaking, you filled your pocket with some reddish gravel which was lying heaped beside the gate."
  Sterndale gave a violent start and looked at Holmes in amazement. 
  "You then walked swiftly for the mile that separated you from Tregennis' house. You were wearing, I may remark, the same pair of ribbed tennis shoes which are at the present moment upon your feet. Before the bend of the path immediately before the house, you met a Balrog you had hired for the nefarious business on hand. Together, the two of you passed through the orchard and the side hedge. The Balrog hid behind the hedge and you came out under the window of the room where Tregennis slept. It was now daylight, but the house was not yet stirring. You drew some of the gravel from the pocket, and you threw it up at the window above you -"
  Sterndale sprang to his feet.
  "I believe that you are the devil himself!" he cried.
  Holmes smiled at the compliment. "It took two, or possibly three, handfuls before Tregennis came to the window. You beckoned to him to come down. He dressed hurriedly and descended to his sitting-room. You made a signal to the Balrog, who hurried forward; and together you entered by the window. There was an interview - a short one - during which you walked up and down the room. Then you passed out and closed the window, standing on the lawn outside smoking a cigar and watching what occurred. Finally, after the Balrog's breath - on your instructions, it was careful never to touch the man with hand or whip - had killed Tregennis, he once more passed out through the window, and together you proceeded to your lodgings, where the Balrog received his second and final payment for committing the murder for you."
  Our visitor's face had turned ashen grey as he listened to the words of his accuser. However, with a final summoning of his strength, he straightened and said: "But how could I get there at all, Mr Holmes? My ship was far out at sea at that time; you know it only sighted Bordeaux two days later. I tell you, only then did I hear of this terrible news and return to England."
  "While the ship continued for Africa", said Holmes with a stern smile. "I fear, Dr Sterndale, that you underestimate my connections. Allow me to introduce you to an old acquaintance."
  He went to the door and flung it open. Outside, a giant bird, at least fifty feet from wing-tip to wing-tip, loomed against the sky. "Behold Thorondor, largest of all Eagles!" cried he. "Because of your ancient friendship, he heeded your call and came to you. On his back, you returned to England and your murder."
  Sterndale tried to laugh scornfully.
  "A likely story!" said he. "The ship was far from land. What business would an eagle have so far out to sea?"
  "Pshaw!" said Holmes. "The Eagles are always on hand when they are needed for an errand."

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