The inspector was transfigured with excitement.  His native accent rattled like a stick upon railings.

“Man,” he cried, “there’s not a doubt of it!  Barker has just marked the window himself.  It’s a good deal broader than any bootmark.  I mind that you said it was a splay-foot, and here’s the explanation.  But what’s the game, Mr. Holmes —­ what’s the game?”

“Ay, what’s the game?” my friend repeated thoughtfully.

White Mason chuckled and rubbed his fat hands together in his professional satisfaction.  “I said it was a snorter!” he cried.  “And a real snorter it is!”

Chapter 6 A Dawning Light

The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.  But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.  Rows of very ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round.  Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.

In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.  And yet, as I strolled round it and tried to steep my soul in its gentle balm, a strange incident occurred, which brought me back to the tragedy and left a sinister impression in my mind.

I have said that a decoration of yew trees circled the garden.  At the end farthest from the house they thickened into a continuous hedge.  On the other side of this hedge, concealed from the eyes of anyone approaching from the direction of the house, there was a stone seat.  As I approached the spot I was aware of voices, some remark in the deep tones of a man, answered by a little ripple of feminine laughter.

An instant later I had come round the end of the hedge and my eyes lit upon Mrs. Douglas and the man Barker before they were aware of my presence.  Her appearance gave me a shock.  In the dining-room she had been demure and discreet.  Now all pretense of grief had passed away from her.  Her eyes shone with the joy of living, and her face still quivered with amusement at some remark of her companion.  He sat forward, his hands clasped and his forearms on his knees, with an answering smile upon his bold, handsome face.  In an instant —­ but it was just one instant too late —­ they resumed their solemn masks as my figure came into view.  A hurried word or two passed between them, and then Barker rose and came towards me.

“Excuse me, sir,” said he, “but am I addressing Dr. Watson?”

I bowed with a coldness which showed, I dare say, very plainly the impression which had been produced upon my mind.

“We thought that it was probably you, as your friendship with Mr. Sherlock Holmes is so well known.  Would you mind coming over and speaking to Mrs. Douglas for one instant?”