It is remarkable only for the fact that amid a
perfect jungle of possibilities we, with our worthy collaborator,
the inspector, have kept our close hold on the essentials and so
been guided along the crooked and winding path. Is there any
point which is not quite clear to you?"
"The object of the mulatto cook's return?"
"I think that the strange creature in the kitchen may account for
it. The man was a primitive savage from the backwoods of San
Pedro, and this was his fetish. When his companion and he had
fled to some prearranged retreat--already occupied, no doubt by a
confederate--the companion had persuaded him to leave so
compromising an article of furniture. But the mulatto's heart
was with it, and he was driven back to it next day, when, on
reconnoitering through the window, he found policeman Walters in
possession. He waited three days longer, and then his piety or
his superstition drove him to try once more. Inspector Baynes,
who, with his usual astuteness, had minimized the incident before
me, had really recognized its importance and had left a trap into
which the creature walked. Any other point, Watson?"
"The torn bird, the pail of blood, the charred bones, all the
mystery of that weird kitchen?"
Holmes smiled as he turned up an entry in his note-book.
Pages:
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58