Part 1 - Chapter 7

The Solution

Next morning, after breakfast, we found Inspector MacDonald and
White Mason seated in close consultation in the small parlour of
the local police sergeant. On the table in front of them were
piled a number of letters and telegrams, which they were
carefully sorting and docketing. Three had been placed on one
side.

"Still on the track of the elusive bicyclist?" Holmes asked
cheerfully. "What is the latest news of the ruffian?"

MacDonald pointed ruefully to his heap of correspondence.

"He is at present reported from Leicester, Nottingham,
Southampton, Derby, East Ham, Richmond, and fourteen other
places. In three of them--East Ham, Leicester, and
Liverpool--there is a clear case against him, and he has actually
been arrested. The country seems to be full of the fugitives
with yellow coats."

"Dear me!" said Holmes sympathetically. "Now, Mr. Mac and you,
Mr. White Mason, I wish to give you a very earnest piece of
advice. When I went into this case with you I bargained, as you
will no doubt remember, that I should not present you with
half-proved theories, but that I should retain and work out my
own ideas until I had satisfied myself that they were correct.
For this reason I am not at the present moment telling you all
that is in my mind. On the other hand, I said that I would play
the game fairly by you, and I do not think it is a fair game to
allow you for one unnecessary moment to waste your energies upon
a profitless task. Therefore I am here to advise you this
morning, and my advice to you is summed up in three
words--abandon the case."

MacDonald and White Mason stared in amazement at their celebrated
colleague.

"You consider it hopeless!" cried the inspector.

"I consider your case to be hopeless. I do not consider that it
is hopeless to arrive at the truth."

"But this cyclist. He is not an invention. We have his
description, his valise, his bicycle. The fellow must be
somewhere. Why should we not gethim?"

"Yes, yes, no doubt he is somewhere, and no doubt we shall get
him; but I would not have you waste your energies in East Ham or
Liverpool. I am sure that we can find some shorter cut to a
result."

"You are holding something back. It's hardly fair of you, Mr.
Holmes." The inspector was annoyed.

"You know my methods of work, Mr. Mac. But I will hold it back
for the shortest time possible. I only wish to verify my details
in one way, which can very readily be done, and then I make my
bow and return to London, leaving my results entirely at your
service. I owe you too much to act otherwise; for in all my
experience I cannot recall any more singular and interesting
study."