3 The Scene of the Crime

Chapter 3 The Scene of the Crime It was late afternoon by the time we arrived at the little town of Tavistock in the middle of Dartmoor. Two men were waiting for us on the station platform: Colonel Ross, the owner of Silver Blaze, and Inspector Gregory. Ross was a tall man with lion-like hair and beard and light blue eyes. Gregory was small and alert with trim side-whiskers and spectacles. "I'm delighted you've found the time to come down, Mr. Holmes," said the colonel. "The inspector has been very thorough, but I wish to leave no stone unturned in finding the killer of poor Straker and in recovering my horse."

"Have there been any fresh developments?" asked Holmes. "I'm sorry to say we've made very little progress," said Gregory. "We have a carriage waiting outside, and if we leave now, we can show you the place before the light fails." A moment later, we were all seated in a comfortable carriage. As we made our way to King's Pyland, Colonel Ross leaned back with his arms folded and his hat tilted over his eyes. Meanwhile, Gregory gave us his theory of what had happened, which was almost exactly as Holmes had described it on the train.

"We believe Fitzroy Simpson is our man," concluded Gregory, "although I realize we don't have absolute proof of this as yet." "What about the blood on Straker's knife and the fact that Simpson has no wound?" asked Holmes. "We think Straker wounded himself when he fell." "My friend Dr. Watson made the same suggestion on our way down here. If so, it adds to the evidence against Simpson." "Certainly," nodded Gregory. "The evidence against him is already very strong. He had a

motive for wanting Silver Blaze to disappear, having bet against him in the forthcoming race. He admits to having been at the stables on the night in question, he's suspected of having drugged the stableboy, he was armed with a heavy stick, and his cravat was found in the dead man's hand. I really think we have enough to take this to trial." Holmes looked doubtful. "A clever lawyer would tear your case to shreds," he said. "Why would Simpson take the horse out of the stable? If he wished to injure it, why not do it there? Has

a duplicate key been found in his possession? What chemist sold him the powdered opium?" "Your objections aren't so difficult to explain," said Gregory. "Simpson's aim might have been to steal rather than injure the horse. The opium was probably brought from London. The key, having served its purpose, could have been hurled into some moorland bog." "What does Simpson say about the folded paper he asked the maid to give to the stableboy?" "He says it was a ten pound note." "And what does he say about the cravat?" "He admits it's his, but claims he lost it." "The biggest problem with your case," said Holmes, "is the disappearance of Silver Blaze. If, as you claim, Simpson's aim was theft, then where did he, a stranger to the district, hope to hide such a famous horse?" "Simpson isn't such a stranger to these parts," countered Gregory. "He's stayed in Tavistock twice already this summer. As for the horse, the search is ongoing. We're busy checking every

stable and outhouse within ten miles of King's Pyland." "I understand there's another stable quite close?" "Yes. Mapleton Stables is nearby, and their horse, Desborough, is second in the betting for the Wessex Cup, so you might say they have an interest is seeing Silver Blaze disappear." Colonel Ross spoke up at this point. "Of course they have an interest!" he exclaimed. "I know for a fact that Silas Brown, the trainer at