Chapter13.FixingtheNets

SirHenrywasmorepleasedthansurprisedtoseeSherlockHolmes,forhehadforsomedaysbeenexpectingthatrecenteventswouldbringhimdownfromLondon.Hedidraisehiseyebrows,however,whenhefoundthatmyfriendhadneitheranyluggagenoranyexplanationsforitsabsence.Betweenuswesoonsuppliedhiswants,andthenoverabelatedsupperweexplainedtothebaronetasmuchofourexperienceasitseemeddesirablethatheshouldknow.ButfirstIhadtheunpleasantdutyofbreakingthenewstoBarrymoreandhiswife.Tohimitmayhavebeenanunmitigatedrelief,butsheweptbitterlyinherapron.Toalltheworldhewasthemanofviolence,halfanimalandhalfdemon;buttoherhealwaysremainedthelittlewilfulboyofherowngirlhood,thechildwhohadclungtoherhand.Evilindeedisthemanwhohasnotonewomantomournhim.

“I’vebeenmopinginthehousealldaysinceWatsonwentoffinthemorning,”saidthebaronet.“IguessIshouldhavesomecredit,forIhavekeptmypromise.IfIhadn’tswornnottogoaboutaloneImighthavehadamorelivelyevening,forIhadamessagefromStapletonaskingmeoverthere.”

“Ihavenodoubtthatyouwouldhavehadamorelivelyevening,”saidHolmesdrily.“Bytheway,Idon’tsupposeyouappreciatethatwehavebeenmourningoveryouashavingbrokenyourneck?”

SirHenryopenedhiseyes.“Howwasthat?”

“Thispoorwretchwasdressedinyourclothes.Ifearyourservantwhogavethemtohimmaygetintotroublewiththepolice.”

“Thatisunlikely.Therewasnomarkonanyofthem,asfarasIknow.”

“That’sluckyforhim—infact,it’sluckyforallofyou,sinceyouareallonthewrongsideofthelawinthismatter.Iamnotsurethatasaconscientiousdetectivemyfirstdutyisnottoarrestthewholehousehold.Watson’sreportsaremostincriminatingdocuments.”

“Buthowaboutthecase?”askedthebaronet.“Haveyoumadeanythingoutofthetangle?Idon’tknowthatWatsonandIaremuchthewisersincewecamedown.”

“IthinkthatIshallbeinapositiontomakethesituationrathermorecleartoyoubeforelong.Ithasbeenanexceedinglydifficultandmost