5 The Vigil

Chapter 5 The Vigil "If there's no point in searching for this cyclist, what do you recommend we do next, Mr. Holmes?" asked Mason. "Whatever you like," said Holmes. "I hear the views from Birlstone Ridge are quite lovely, if you fancy a walk." "I was speaking about the case," said Mason. "Ah, well in that case, may I recommend a book in the village library about the history of Birlstone Manor. I was reading it last night. Did you know that King Charles I spent time here during the English Civil War? He had to hide for several days when the house was searched by parliamentary soldiers." "Fascinating, Mr. Holmes, but hardly relevant," said MacDonald.

"Are you sure? Sometimes it helps to take a broader view, Mr. Mac. It's amazing how often odd bits of information prove useful in the solving of a crime." Holmes began buttoning up his coat. "We must go now, gentlemen. Please be sure to meet us back here before dusk this evening for the conclusion of this case. Oh, and before we part, please could you write a note to Mr. Barker, as follows..." Mason grabbed a paper and pen as Holmes began to dictate...

"Dear Sir, As part of our investigation, we have decided it will be necessary to drain the moat. Work will begin early tomorrow." "We can't drain the moat!" declared MacDonald. "Of course we can't," agreed Holmes. "Please sign that, Mr. Mason, and deliver it to Mr. Barker at around four o'clock. Then come and meet us here. And be sure to wear your warmest coats."

It was a chilly evening as we followed Holmes to Birlstone Manor. Instead of entering via the gates, we slipped through a gap in the railings and hid in a shrubbery opposite the main door and the drawbridge. "What now?" asked MacDonald gruffly. "We wait for events to take their course," answered Holmes. Our vigil was long and uncomfortable. A cold, damp reek from the moat chilled us to the bones. "How long is this to last?" asked MacDonald finally.

"Who can say?" answered Holmes. "If only criminals timetabled their movements like railway trains, it would—wait. Over there! See!" As he spoke, a bright yellow light came on in the study, and the window was thrown open. A man's head poked out and he peered from side to side as if checking to ensure he was unobserved. The man leaned forward and dipped a stick in the moat, stirring the water with it. Suddenly, he lifted the stick, hauling up a heavy object like a fisherman landing a fish, and pulled it into the room. "Now!" cried Holmes, and we all leapt to our feet and ran across the drawbridge. Holmes rang the bell and an astonished Ames opened it. Barging past him, we rushed to the study. Cecil Barker was in there, staring defiantly at us. "What do you want?" he cried. Holmes glanced around the room, then pounced on a wet bundle tied with a cord, which had been thrust under the desk. "This," he said. "This bundle, weighed down by a dumbbell, which you've just raised from the bottom of the moat."

"How did you know?" cried Barker, astonished. "Because I found it in there yesterday," said Holmes. "You'll remember, Mr. Mac, how puzzled I was by the missing dumbbell. When water is near and a weight is missing, it's not too far-fetched to suppose that something's been sunk in the water. Last night I fished it out. In order to prove who placed it there, I had to tempt the same person to retrieve it, which I did with our threat to drain the moat." Holmes placed the sodden bundle on the table and undid the cord. Inside was the dumbbell, a pair of boots, a dark suit, and a yellow overcoat.