THE MEMOIRS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
by
Arthur Conan Doyle

Silver Blaze

Chapter 16

The  curious  incident
of  the  dog
in  the  night-time

“And of course
this is all quite
a minor point
compared to
the question of
who killed John Straker.”

“And you will
devote yourself
to that?”

“On the contrary,
we both go back
to London
by the night train.”

I was thunderstruck
by my friend’s words.

We had only been a few
hours in Devonshire,
and that he should
give up an investigation
which he had begun
so brilliantly
was quite incomprehensible
to me.

Not a word more
could I draw from him
until we were back
at the trainer’s house.

The Colonel
and the Inspector
were awaiting us
in the parlour.

“My friend and I
return to town
by the night-express,”
said Holmes.

“We have had
a charming little breath
of your beautiful
Dartmoor air.”

The Inspector
opened his eyes,
and the Colonel’s lip
curled in a sneer.

“So you despair
of arresting the murderer
of poor Straker,”
said he.

Holmes shrugged his shoulders.
“There are certainly
grave difficulties
in the way,”
said he.

“I have every hope,
however,
that your horse
will start upon Tuesday,
and I beg
that you will have
your jockey in readiness.

Might I ask for
a photograph
of Mr. John Straker?”

The Inspector
took one
from an envelope
and handed it to him.

“My dear Gregory,
you anticipate
all my wants.

If I might ask you
to wait here
for an instant,
I have a question
which I should
like to put
to the maid.”

“I must say that
I am rather disappointed
in our London
consultant,”
said Colonel Ross,
bluntly, as my friend
left the room.

“I do not see
that we are any further
than when he came.”

“At least
you have his assurance
that your horse will run,”
said I.

“Yes, I have his assurance,”
said the Colonel,
with a shrug
of his shoulders.

“I should prefer
to have the horse.”

I was about to make
some reply
in defence of
my friend
when he entered
the room again.

“Now, gentlemen,”
said he,
“I am quite ready
for Tavistock.”

As we stepped
into the carriage
one of the stable-lads
held the door
open for us.

A sudden idea
seemed to occur
to Holmes,
for he leaned forward
and touched the lad
upon the sleeve.

“You have a few sheep
in the paddock,”
he said.

“Who attends
to them?”

“I do, sir.”

“Have you noticed
anything amiss
with them of late?”

“Well, sir,
not of much account;
but three of them
have gone lame, sir.”

I could see
that Holmes
was extremely pleased,
for he chuckled
and rubbed his hands
together.

“A long shot,
Watson; a very long shot,”
said he,
pinching my arm.

“Gregory,
let me recommend
to your attention
this singular epidemic
among the sheep.
Drive on, coachman!”

Colonel Ross
still wore an expression
which showed
the poor opinion
which he had formed
of my companion’s ability,
but I saw
by the Inspector’s face
that his attention
had been keenly
aroused.

“You consider that
to be important?”
he asked.

“Exceedingly so.”

“Is there any point
to which you
would wish to draw
my attention?”

“To the curious incident
of the dog
in the night-time.”

“The dog
did nothing
in the night-time.”

“That was
the curious incident,”
remarked Sherlock Holmes.

The  end  of  Chapter  16