t reference to anyone else, to sit
alone for a time in the study."

"What! With that?" I ejaculated.

"No, no, everything is now in order. You gave permission for that, Mr.
Mac, as I am informed. The room was in its normal state, and in it I
passed an instructive quarter of an hour."

"What were you doing?"

"Well, not to make a mystery of so simple a matter, I was looking for
the missing dumb-bell. It has always bulked rather large in my estimate
of the case. I ended by finding it."

"Where?"

"Ah, there we come to the edge of the unexplored. Let me go a little
further, a very little further, and I will promise that you shall share
everything that I know."

"Well, we're bound to take you on your own terms," said the inspector;
"but when it comes to telling us to abandon the case--why in the name of
goodness should we abandon the case?"

"For the simple reason, my dear Mr. Mac, that you have not got the first
idea what it is that you are investigating."

"We are investigating the murder of Mr. John Douglas of Birlstone
Manor."

"Yes, yes, so you are. But don't trouble to trace the mysterious
gentleman upon the bicycle. I assure you that it won't help you."

"Then what do you suggest that we do?"

"I will tell you exactly what to do, if you will do it."

"Well, I'm bound to say I've always found you had reason behind all your
queer ways. I'll do what you advise."

"And you, Mr. White Mason?"

The country detective looked helplessly from one to the other. Holmes
and his methods were new to him. "Well, if it is good enough for the
inspector, it is good enough for me," he said at last.

"Capital!" said Holmes. "Well, then, I should recommend a nice, cheery
country walk for both of you. They tell me that the views from Birlstone
Ridge over the Weald are very remarkable. No doubt lunch could be got at
some suitable hostelry; though my ignorance of the country prevents me
from recommending one. In the evening, tired but happy--"

"Man, this is getting past a joke!" cried MacDonald, rising angrily from
his chair.

"Well, well, spend the day as you like," said Holmes, patting him
cheerfully upon the shoulder. "Do what you like and go where you will,
but meet me here before dusk without fail--without fail, Mr. Mac."

"That sounds more like sanity."

"All of it was excellent advice; but I don't insist, so long as you are
here when I need you. But now, before we part, I want you to write a
note to Mr. Bar