Finally he took refuge in a somewhat acrid irony.
"You know such a lot, Mr.Holmes, perhaps you had better tell us some more," he sneered.
"I have no doubt that I could tell you a great deal more, Mr.Barker; but it would come with a better grace from you." "Oh, you think so, do you?
Well, all I can say is that if there's any secret here it is not my secret, and I am not the man to give it away." "Well, if you take that line, Mr.Barker," said the inspector quietly, "we must just keep you in sight until we have the warrant and can hold you." "You can do what you damn please about that," said Barker defiantly.
The proceedings seemed to have come to a definite end so far as he was concerned; for one had only to look at that granite face to realize that no peine forte et dure would ever force him to plead against his will.
The deadlock was broken, however, by a woman's voice.

Mrs.Douglas had been standing listening at the half opened door, and now she entered the room.
"You have done enough for now, Cecil," said she.

"Whatever comes of it in the future, you have done enough." "Enough and more than enough," remarked Sherlock Holmes gravely.

"I have every sympathy with you, madam, and should strongly urge you to have some confidence in the common sense of our jurisdiction and to take the police voluntarily into your complete confidence.

It may be that I am myself at fault for not following up the hint which you conveyed to me through my friend, Dr.Watson; but, at that time I had every reason to believe that you were directly concerned in the crime.