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my companion。 He said little about the case； but from that little we
gathered that he also was not dissatisfied at the course of events。 I must
admit； however； that I was somewhat surprised when； some five days after
the crime； I opened my morning paper to find in large letters：
THE OXSHOTT MYSTERY A SOLUTION ARREST OF
SUPPOSED ASSASSIN
Holmes sprang in his chair as if he had been stung when I read the
headlines。
〃By Jove！〃 he cried。 〃You don't mean that Baynes has got him？〃
〃Apparently；〃 said I as I read the following report：
〃Great excitement was caused in Esher and the neighbouring district
when it was learned late last night that an arrest had been effected in
connection with the Oxshott murder。 It will be remembered that Mr。
Garcia； of Wisteria Lodge； was found dead on Oxshott Common； his body
showing signs of extreme violence； and that on the same night his servant
and his cook fled； which appeared to show their participation in the crime。
It was suggested； but never proved； that the deceased gentleman may have
had valuables in the house； and that their abstraction was the motive of the
crime。 Every effort was made by Inspector Baynes； who has the case in
hand； to ascertain the hiding place of the fugitives； and he had good reason
to believe that they had not gone far but were lurking in some retreat
which had been already prepared。 It was certain from the first； however；
that they would eventually be detected； as the cook； from the evidence of
one or two tradespeople who have caught a glimpse of him through the
window； was a man of most remarkable appearancebeing a huge and
hideous mulatto； with yellowish features of a pronounced negroid type。
This man has been seen since the crime； for he was detected and pursued
by Constable Walters on the same evening； when he had the audacity to
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The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
revisit Wisteria Lodge。 Inspector Baynes； considering that such a visit
must have some purpose in view and was likely； therefore； to be repeated；
abandoned the house but left an ambuscade in the shrubbery。 The man
walked into the trap and was captured last night after a struggle in which
Constable Downing was badly bitten by the savage。 We understand that
when the prison is brought before the magistrates a remand will be applied
for by the police； and that great developments are hoped from his capture。〃
〃Really we must see Baynes at once；〃 cried Holmes； picking up his hat。
〃We will just catch him before he starts。〃 We hurried down the village
street and found； as we had expected； that the inspector was just leaving
his lodgings。
〃You've seen the paper； Mr。 Holmes？〃 he asked； holding one out to us。
〃Yes； Baynes； I've seen it。 Pray don't think it a liberty if I give you a
word of friendly warning。〃
〃Of warning； Mr。 Holmes？〃
〃I have looked into this case with some care； and I am not convinced
that you are on the right lines。 I don't want you to commit yourself too far
unless you are sure。〃
〃You're very kind； Mr。 Holmes。〃
〃I assure you I speak for your good。〃
It seemed to me that something like a wink quivered for an instant
over one of Mr。 Baynes's tiny eyes。
〃We agreed to work on our own lines； Mr。 Holmes。 That's what I am
doing。〃
〃Oh； very good；〃 said Holmes。 〃Don't blame me。〃
〃No； sir； I believe you mean well by me。 But we all have our own
systems； Mr。 Holmes。 You have yours； and maybe I have mine。〃
〃Let us say no more about it。〃
〃You're welcome always to my news。 This fellow is a perfect savage；
as strong as a cart…horse and as fierce as the devil。 He chewed Downing's
thumb nearly off before they could master him。 He hardly speaks a word
of English； and we can get nothing out of him but grunts。〃
〃And you think you have evidence that he murdered his late master？〃
〃I didn't say so； Mr。 Holmes； I didn't say so。 We all have our little ways。
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The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
You try yours and I will try mine。 That's the agreement。〃
Holmes shrugged his shoulders as we walked away together。 〃I can't
make the man out。 He seems to be riding for a fall。 Well； as he says； we
must each try our own way and see what comes of it。 But there's
something in Inspector Baynes which I can't quite understand。〃
〃Just sit down in that chair； Watson；〃 said Sherlock Holmes when we
had returned to our apartment at the Bull。 〃I want to put you in touch with
the situation； as I may need your help to…night。 Let me show you the
evolution of this case so far as I have been able to follow it。 Simple as it
has been in its leading features； it has none the less presented surprising
difficulties in the way of an arrest。 There are gaps in that direction which
we have still to fill。
〃We will go back to the note which was handed in to Garcia upon the
evening of his death。 We may put aside this idea of Baynes's that Garcia's
servants were concerned in the matter。 The proof of this lies in the fact that
it was HE who had arranged for the presence of Scott Eccles； which could
only have been done for the purpose of an alibi。 It was Garcia； then； who
had an enterprise； and apparently a criminal enterprise； in hand that night
in the course of which he met his death。 I say 'criminal' because only a
man with a criminal enterprise desires to establish an alibi。 Who； then； is
most likely to have taken his life？ Surely the person against whom the
criminal enterprise was directed。 So far it seems to me that we are on safe
ground。
〃We can now see a reason for the disappearance of Garcia's household。
They were ALL confederates in the same unknown crime。 If it came off
when Garcia returned； any possible suspicion would be warded off by the
Englishman's evidence； and all would be well。 But the attempt was a
dangerous one； and if Garcia did NOT return by a certain hour it was
probable that his own life had been sacrificed。 It had been arranged；
therefore； that in such a case his two subordinates were to make for some
prearranged spot where they could escape investigation and be in a
position afterwards to renew