But is it understandable that he should go out of his way to bring with him the most noisy weapon he could select, knowing well that it will fetch every human being in the house to the spot as quick as they can run, and that it is all odds that he will be seen before he can get across the moat?
Is that credible, Mr.Holmes ?" "Well, you put the case strongly," my friend replied thoughtfully.

"It certainly needs a good deal of justification.

May I ask, Mr.White Mason, whether you examined the farther side of the moat at once to see if there were any signs of the man having climbed out from the water ?" "There were no signs, Mr.Holmes.But it is a stone ledge, and one could hardly expect them." "No tracks or marks ?" "None." "Ha! Would there be any objection, Mr.White Mason, to our going down to the house at once?
There may possibly be some small point which might be suggestive." "I was going to propose it, Mr.Holmes; but I thought it well to put you in touch with all the facts before we go.

I suppose if anything should strike you--" White Mason looked doubtfully at the amateur.
"I have worked with Mr.Holmes before," said Inspector MacDonald.

"He plays the game." "My own idea of the game, at any rate," said Holmes, with a smile.