第7章

"Itistimeforustogo。"

"CanIseeherfirst？"

"No，sheisnotconscious。Mr。SherlockHolmes，IonlyhopethatifeveragainIhaveanimportantcaseIshallhavethegoodfortunetohaveyoubymyside。"

Westoodatthewindowandwatchedthecabdriveaway。AsI

turnedbackmyeyecaughtthepelletofpaperwhichtheprisonerhadtosseduponthetable。ItwasthenotewithwhichHolmeshaddecoyedhim。

"Seeifyoucanreadit，Watson，"saidhe，withasmile。

Itcontainednoword，butthislittlelineofdancingmen：——

GRAPHIC

"IfyouusethecodewhichIhaveexplained，"saidHolmes，"youwillfindthatitsimplymeans`Comehereatonce。’Iwasconvincedthatitwasaninvitationwhichhewouldnotrefuse，sincehecouldneverimaginethatitcouldcomefromanyonebutthelady。Andso，mydearWatson，wehaveendedbyturningthedancingmentogoodwhentheyhavesooftenbeentheagentsofevil，andIthinkthatIhavefulfilledmypromiseofgivingyousomethingunusualforyournote—book。Three—fortyisourtrain，andIfancyweshouldbebackinBakerStreetfordinner。

Onlyonewordofepilogue。TheAmerican，AbeSlaney，wascondemnedtodeathatthewinterassizesatNorwich；buthispenaltywaschangedtopenalservitudeinconsiderationofmitigatingcircumstances，andthecertaintythatHiltonCubitthadfiredthefirstshot。OfMrs。HiltonCubittIonlyknowthatIhaveheardsherecoveredentirely，andthatshestillremainsawidow，devotingherwholelifetothecareofthepoorandtotheadministrationofherhusband’sestate。

IV。———TheAdventureoftheSolitaryCyclist。

FROMtheyears1894to1901inclusiveMr。SherlockHolmeswasaverybusyman。Itissafetosaythattherewasnopubliccaseofanydifficultyinwhichhewasnotconsultedduringthoseeightyears，andtherewerehundredsofprivatecases，someofthemofthemostintricateandextraordinarycharacter，inwhichheplayedaprominentpart。Manystartlingsuccessesandafewunavoidablefailuresweretheoutcomeofthislongperiodofcontinuouswork。AsIhavepreservedveryfullnotesofallthesecases，andwasmyselfpersonallyengagedinmanyofthem，itmaybeimaginedthatitisnoeasytasktoknowwhichI

shouldselecttolaybeforethepublic。Ishall，however，preservemyformerrule，andgivethepreferencetothosecaseswhichderivetheirinterestnotsomuchfromthebrutalityofthecrimeasfromtheingenuityanddramaticqualityofthesolution。ForthisreasonIwillnowlaybeforethereaderthefactsconnectedwithMissVioletSmith，thesolitarycyclistofCharlington，andthecurioussequelofourinvestigation，whichculminatedinunexpectedtragedy。Itistruethatthecircumstancesdidnotadmitofanystrikingillustrationofthosepowersforwhichmyfriendwasfamous，butthereweresomepointsaboutthecasewhichmadeitstandoutinthoselongrecordsofcrimefromwhichIgatherthematerialfortheselittlenarratives。

Onreferringtomynote—bookfortheyear1895IfindthatitwasuponSaturday，the23rdofApril，thatwefirstheardofMissVioletSmith。Hervisitwas，Iremember，extremelyunwelcometoHolmes，forhewasimmersedatthemomentinaveryabstruseandcomplicatedproblemconcerningthepeculiarpersecutiontowhichJohnVincentHarden，thewell—knowntobaccomillionaire，hadbeensubjected。Myfriend，wholovedaboveallthingsprecisionandconcentrationofthought，resentedanythingwhichdistractedhisattentionfromthematterinhand。Andyetwithoutaharshnesswhichwasforeigntohisnatureitwasimpossibletorefusetolistentothestoryoftheyoungandbeautifulwoman，tall，graceful，andqueenly，whopresentedherselfatBakerStreetlateintheeveningandimploredhisassistanceandadvice。Itwasvaintourgethathistimewasalreadyfullyoccupied，fortheyoungladyhadcomewiththedeterminationtotellherstory，anditwasevidentthatnothingshortofforcecouldgetheroutoftheroomuntilshehaddoneso。Witharesignedairandasomewhatwearysmile，Holmesbeggedthebeautifulintrudertotakeaseatandtoinformuswhatitwasthatwastroublingher。

"Atleastitcannotbeyourhealth，"saidhe，ashiskeeneyesdartedoverher；"soardentabicyclistmustbefullofenergy。"

Sheglanceddowninsurpriseatherownfeet，andIobservedtheslightrougheningofthesideofthesolecausedbythefrictionoftheedgeofthepedal。

"Yes，Ibicycleagooddeal，Mr。Holmes，andthathassomethingtodowithmyvisittoyouto—day。"

Myfriendtookthelady’sunglovedhandandexamineditwithascloseanattentionandaslittlesentimentasascientistwouldshowtoaspecimen。

"Youwillexcuseme，Iamsure。Itismybusiness，"saidhe，ashedroppedit。"Inearlyfellintotheerrorofsupposingthatyouweretypewriting。Ofcourse，itisobviousthatitismusic。Youobservethespatulatefinger—end，Watson，whichiscommontobothprofessions？Thereisaspiritualityabouttheface，however"——hegentlyturnedittowardsthelight——"whichthetypewriterdoesnotgenerate。Thisladyisamusician。"

"Yes，Mr。Holmes，Iteachmusic。"

"Inthecountry，Ipresume，fromyourcomplexion。"

"Yes，sir；nearFarnham，onthebordersofSurrey。"

"Abeautifulneighbourhoodandfullofthemostinterestingassociations。Youremember，Watson，thatitwasneartherethatwetookArchieStamford，theforger。Now，MissViolet，whathashappenedtoyounearFarnham，onthebordersofSurrey？"

Theyounglady，withgreatclearnessandcomposure，madethefollowingcuriousstatement：——

"Myfatherisdead，Mr。Holmes。HewasJamesSmith，whoconductedtheorchestraattheoldImperialTheatre。MymotherandIwereleftwithoutarelationintheworldexceptoneuncle，RalphSmith，whowenttoAfricatwenty—fiveyearsago，andwehaveneverhadawordfromhimsince。Whenfatherdiedwewereleftverypoor，butonedayweweretoldthattherewasanadvertisementintheTIMESinquiringforourwhereabouts。Youcanimaginehowexcitedwewere，forwethoughtthatsomeonehadleftusafortune。Wewentatoncetothelawyerwhosenamewasgiveninthepaper。Therewemettwogentlemen，Mr。CarruthersandMr。Woodley，whowerehomeonavisitfromSouthAfrica。

Theysaidthatmyunclewasafriendoftheirs，thathediedsomemonthsbeforeingreatpovertyinJohannesburg，andthathehadaskedthemwithhislastbreathtohuntuphisrelationsandseethattheywereinnowant。ItseemedstrangetousthatUncleRalph，whotooknonoticeofuswhenhewasalive，shouldbesocarefultolookafteruswhenhewasdead；butMr。Carruthersexplainedthatthereasonwasthatmyunclehadjustheardofthedeathofhisbrother，andsofeltresponsibleforourfate。"

"Excuseme，"saidHolmes；"whenwasthisinterview？"

"LastDecember——fourmonthsago。"

"Prayproceed。"

"Mr。Woodleyseemedtometobeamostodiousperson。

Hewasforevermakingeyesatme——acoarse，puffy—faced，red—moustachedyoungman，withhishairplastereddownoneachsideofhisforehead。Ithoughtthathewasperfectlyhateful——

andIwassurethatCyrilwouldnotwishmetoknowsuchaperson。"

"Oh，Cyrilishisname！"saidHolmes，smiling。

Theyoungladyblushedandlaughed。

"Yes，Mr。Holmes；CyrilMorton，anelectricalengineer，andwehopetobemarriedattheendofthesummer。Dearme，howDIDIgettalkingabouthim？WhatIwishedtosaywasthatMr。Woodleywasperfectlyodious，butthatMr。Carruthers，whowasamucholderman，wasmoreagreeable。Hewasadark，sallow，clean—shaven，silentperson；buthehadpolitemannersandapleasantsmile。Heinquiredhowwewereleft，andonfindingthatwewereverypoorhesuggestedthatIshouldcomeandteachmusictohisonlydaughter，agedten。IsaidthatIdidnotliketoleavemymother，onwhichhesuggestedthatIshouldgohometohereveryweek—end，andheofferedmeahundredayear，whichwascertainlysplendidpay。Soitendedbymyaccepting，andIwentdowntoChilternGrange，aboutsixmilesfromFarnham。Mr。Carrutherswasawidower，buthehadengagedalady—housekeeper，averyrespectable，elderlyperson，calledMrs。Dixon，tolookafterhisestablishment。Thechildwasadear，andeverythingpromisedwell。Mr。Carrutherswasverykindandverymusical，andwehadmostpleasanteveningstogether。Everyweek—endIwenthometomymotherintown。

"Thefirstflawinmyhappinesswasthearrivalofthered—moustachedMr。Woodley。Hecameforavisitofaweek，andoh，itseemedthreemonthstome！Hewasadreadfulperson，abullytoeveryoneelse，buttomesomethinginfinitelyworse。

Hemadeodiouslovetome，boastedofhiswealth，saidthatifImarriedhimIwouldhavethefinestdiamondsinLondon，andfinally，whenIwouldhavenothingtodowithhim，heseizedmeinhisarmsonedayafterdinner——hewashideouslystrong——

andhesworethathewouldnotletmegountilIhadkissedhim。

Mr。Carrutherscameinandtorehimofffromme，onwhichheturneduponhisownhost，knockinghimdownandcuttinghisfaceopen。Thatwastheendofhisvisit，asyoucanimagine。

Mr。Carruthersapologizedtomenextday，andassuredmethatIshouldneverbeexposedtosuchaninsultagain。IhavenotseenMr。Woodleysince。

"Andnow，Mr。Holmes，Icomeatlasttothespecialthingwhichhascausedmetoaskyouradviceto—day。YoumustknowthateverySaturdayforenoonIrideonmybicycletoFarnhamStationinordertogetthe12。22totown。TheroadfromChilternGrangeisalonelyone，andatonespotitisparticularlyso，foritliesforoveramilebetweenCharlingtonHeathupononesideandthewoodswhichlieroundCharlingtonHallupontheother。Youcouldnotfindamorelonelytractofroadanywhere，anditisquiteraretomeetsomuchasacart，orapeasant，untilyoureachthehighroadnearCrooksburyHill。TwoweeksagoIwaspassingthisplacewhenIchancedtolookbackovermyshoulder，andabouttwohundredyardsbehindmeIsawaman，alsoonabicycle。Heseemedtobeamiddle—agedman，withashort，darkbeard。IlookedbackbeforeIreachedFarnham，butthemanwasgone，soIthoughtnomoreaboutit。ButyoucanimaginehowsurprisedIwas，Mr。Holmes，whenonmyreturnontheMondayIsawthesamemanonthesamestretchofroad。

Myastonishmentwasincreasedwhentheincidentoccurredagain，exactlyasbefore，onthefollowingSaturdayandMonday。

Healwayskepthisdistanceanddidnotmolestmeinanyway，butstillitcertainlywasveryodd。ImentionedittoMr。

Carruthers，whoseemedinterestedinwhatIsaid，andtoldmethathehadorderedahorseandtrap，sothatinfutureIshouldnotpassovertheselonelyroadswithoutsomecompanion。

"Thehorseandtrapweretohavecomethisweek，butforsomereasontheywerenotdelivered，andagainIhadtocycletothestation。Thatwasthismorning。YoucanthinkthatIlookedoutwhenIcametoCharlingtonHeath，andthere，sureenough，wastheman，exactlyashehadbeenthetwoweeksbefore。

HealwayskeptsofarfrommethatIcouldnotclearlyseehisface，butitwascertainlysomeonewhomIdidnotknow。

Hewasdressedinadarksuitwithaclothcap。TheonlythingabouthisfacethatIcouldclearlyseewashisdarkbeard。

To—dayIwasnotalarmed，butIwasfilledwithcuriosity，andIdeterminedtofindoutwhohewasandwhathewanted。

Isloweddownmymachine，buthesloweddownhis。ThenIstoppedaltogether，buthestoppedalso。ThenIlaidatrapforhim。

Thereisasharpturningoftheroad，andIpedalledveryquicklyroundthis，andthenIstoppedandwaited。Iexpectedhimtoshootroundandpassmebeforehecouldstop。Butheneverappeared。ThenIwentbackandlookedroundthecorner。

Icouldseeamileofroad，buthewasnotonit。Tomakeitthemoreextraordinary，therewasnosideroadatthispointdownwhichhecouldhavegone。"

Holmeschuckledandrubbedhishands。"Thiscasecertainlypresentssomefeaturesofitsown，"saidhe。"Howmuchtimeelapsedbetweenyourturningthecornerandyourdiscoverythattheroadwasclear？"

"Twoorthreeminutes。"

"Thenhecouldnothaveretreateddowntheroad，andyousaythattherearenosideroads？"

"None。"

"Thenhecertainlytookafootpathononesideortheother。"

"ItcouldnothavebeenonthesideoftheheathorIshouldhaveseenhim。"

"SobytheprocessofexclusionwearriveatthefactthathemadehiswaytowardsCharlingtonHall，which，asIunderstand，issituatedinitsowngroundsononesideoftheroad。

Anythingelse？"

"Nothing，Mr。Holmes，savethatIwassoperplexedthatIfeltIshouldnotbehappyuntilIhadseenyouandhadyouradvice。"

Holmessatinsilenceforsomelittletime。

"Whereisthegentlemantowhomyouareengaged？"heasked，atlast。

"HeisintheMidlandElectricalCompany，atCoventry。"

"Hewouldnotpayyouasurprisevisit？"

"Oh，Mr。Holmes！AsifIshouldnotknowhim！"

"Haveyouhadanyotheradmirers？"

"SeveralbeforeIknewCyril。"

"Andsince？"

"Therewasthisdreadfulman，Woodley，ifyoucancallhimanadmirer。"

"Nooneelse？"

Ourfairclientseemedalittleconfused。

"Whowashe？"askedHolmes。

"Oh，itmaybeamerefancyofmine；butithasseemedtomesometimesthatmyemployer，Mr。Carruthers，takesagreatdealofinterestinme。Wearethrownrathertogether。Iplayhisaccompanimentsintheevening。Hehasneversaidanything。

Heisaperfectgentleman。Butagirlalwaysknows。"

"Ha！"Holmeslookedgrave。"Whatdoeshedoforaliving？"

"Heisarichman。"

"Nocarriagesorhorses？"

"Well，atleastheisfairlywell—to—do。ButhegoesintotheCitytwoorthreetimesaweek。HeisdeeplyinterestedinSouthAfricangoldshares。"

"Youwillletmeknowanyfreshdevelopment，MissSmith。Iamverybusyjustnow，butIwillfindtimetomakesomeinquiriesintoyourcase。Inthemeantimetakenostepwithoutlettingmeknow。Good—bye，andItrustthatweshallhavenothingbutgoodnewsfromyou。"

"ItispartofthesettledorderofNaturethatsuchagirlshouldhavefollowers，"saidHolmes，ashepulledathismeditativepipe，"butforchoicenotonbicyclesinlonelycountryroads。

Somesecretivelover，beyondalldoubt。Buttherearecuriousandsuggestivedetailsaboutthecase，Watson。"

"Thatheshouldappearonlyatthatpoint？"

"Exactly。OurfirsteffortmustbetofindwhoarethetenantsofCharlingtonHall。Then，again，howabouttheconnectionbetweenCarruthersandWoodley，sincetheyappeartobemenofsuchadifferenttype？HowcametheyBOTHtobesokeenuponlookingupRalphSmith’srelations？Onemorepoint。WhatsortofaMENAGEisitwhichpaysdoublethemarketpriceforagoverness，butdoesnotkeepahorsealthoughsixmilesfromthestation？Odd，Watson——veryodd！"

"Youwillgodown？"

"No，mydearfellow，YOUwillgodown。Thismaybesometriflingintrigue，andIcannotbreakmyotherimportantresearchforthesakeofit。OnMondayyouwillarriveearlyatFarnham；youwillconcealyourselfnearCharlingtonHeath；

youwillobservethesefactsforyourself，andactasyourownjudgmentadvises。Then，havinginquiredastotheoccupantsoftheHall，youwillcomebacktomeandreport。Andnow，Watson，notanotherwordofthematteruntilwehaveafewsolidstepping—stonesonwhichwemayhopetogetacrosstooursolution。"

WehadascertainedfromtheladythatshewentdownupontheMondaybythetrainwhichleavesWaterlooat9。50，soIstartedearlyandcaughtthe9。13。AtFarnhamStationIhadnodifficultyinbeingdirectedtoCharlingtonHeath。Itwasimpossibletomistakethesceneoftheyounglady’sadventure，fortheroadrunsbetweentheopenheathononesideandanoldyewhedgeupontheother，surroundingaparkwhichisstuddedwithmagnificenttrees。Therewasamaingatewayoflichen—studdedstone，eachsidepillarsurmountedbymoulderingheraldicemblems；butbesidesthiscentralcarriagedriveIobservedseveralpointswherethereweregapsinthehedgeandpathsleadingthroughthem。Thehousewasinvisiblefromtheroad，butthesurroundingsallspokeofgloomanddecay。

Theheathwascoveredwithgoldenpatchesoffloweringgorse，gleamingmagnificentlyinthelightofthebrightspringsunshine。

BehindoneoftheseclumpsItookupmyposition，soastocommandboththegatewayoftheHallandalongstretchoftheroaduponeitherside。IthadbeendesertedwhenIleftit，butnowIsawacyclistridingdownitfromtheoppositedirectiontothatinwhichIhadcome。Hewascladinadarksuit，andIsawthathehadablackbeard。OnreachingtheendoftheCharlingtongroundshesprangfromhismachineandleditthroughagapinthehedge，disappearingfrommyview。

Aquarterofanhourpassedandthenasecondcyclistappeared。

Thistimeitwastheyoungladycomingfromthestation。

IsawherlookaboutherasshecametotheCharlingtonhedge。

Aninstantlaterthemanemergedfromhishiding—place，spranguponhiscycle，andfollowedher。Inallthebroadlandscapethoseweretheonlymovingfigures，thegracefulgirlsittingverystraightuponhermachine，andthemanbehindherbendinglowoverhishandle—bar，withacuriouslyfurtivesuggestionineverymovement。Shelookedbackathimandslowedherpace。

Heslowedalso。Shestopped。Heatoncestoppedtoo，keepingtwohundredyardsbehindher。Hernextmovementwasasunexpectedasitwasspirited。Shesuddenlywhiskedherwheelsroundanddashedstraightathim！Hewasasquickasshe，however，anddartedoffindesperateflight。Presentlyshecamebackuptheroadagain，herheadhaughtilyintheair，notdeigningtotakeanyfurthernoticeofhersilentattendant。Hehadturnedalso，andstillkepthisdistanceuntilthecurveoftheroadhidthemfrommysight。

Iremainedinmyhiding—place，anditwaswellthatIdidso，forpresentlythemanreappearedcyclingslowlyback。

HeturnedinattheHallgatesanddismountedfromhismachine。

ForsomefewminutesIcouldseehimstandingamongthetrees。

Hishandswereraisedandheseemedtobesettlinghisnecktie。

ThenhemountedhiscycleandrodeawayfrommedownthedrivetowardstheHall。Iranacrosstheheathandpeeredthroughthetrees。FarawayIcouldcatchglimpsesoftheoldgreybuildingwithitsbristlingTudorchimneys，butthedriveranthroughadenseshrubbery，andIsawnomoreofmyman。

However，itseemedtomethatIhaddoneafairlygoodmorning’swork，andIwalkedbackinhighspiritstoFarnham。Thelocalhouse—agentcouldtellmenothingaboutCharlingtonHall，andreferredmetoawell—knownfirminPallMall。ThereIhaltedonmywayhome，andmetwithcourtesyfromtherepresentative。

No，IcouldnothaveCharlingtonHallforthesummer。

Iwasjusttoolate。Ithadbeenletaboutamonthago。

Mr。Williamsonwasthenameofthetenant。Hewasarespectableelderlygentleman。Thepoliteagentwasafraidhecouldsaynomore，astheaffairsofhisclientswerenotmatterswhichhecoulddiscuss。

Mr。SherlockHolmeslistenedwithattentiontothelongreportwhichIwasabletopresenttohimthatevening，butitdidnotelicitthatwordofcurtpraisewhichIhadhopedforandshouldhavevalued。Onthecontrary，hisausterefacewasevenmoreseverethanusualashecommenteduponthethingsthatIhaddoneandthethingsthatIhadnot。

"Yourhiding—place，mydearWatson，wasveryfaulty。Youshouldhavebeenbehindthehedge；thenyouwouldhavehadacloseviewofthisinterestingperson。Asitisyouweresomehundredsofyardsaway，andcantellmeevenlessthanMissSmith。

Shethinksshedoesnotknowtheman；Iamconvincedshedoes。

Why，otherwise，shouldhebesodesperatelyanxiousthatsheshouldnotgetsonearhimastoseehisfeatures？Youdescribehimasbendingoverthehandle—bar。Concealmentagain，yousee。

Youreallyhavedoneremarkablybadly。Hereturnstothehouseandyouwanttofindoutwhoheis。YoucometoaLondonhouse—agent！"

"WhatshouldIhavedone？"Icried，withsomeheat。

"Gonetothenearestpublic—house。Thatisthecentreofcountrygossip。Theywouldhavetoldyoueveryname，fromthemastertothescullery—maid。Williamson！Itconveysnothingtomymind。Ifheisanelderlymanheisnotthisactivecyclistwhosprintsawayfromthatathleticyounglady’spursuit。Whathavewegainedbyyourexpedition？Theknowledgethatthegirl’sstoryistrue。Ineverdoubtedit。ThatthereisaconnectionbetweenthecyclistandtheHall。Ineverdoubtedthateither。ThattheHallistenantedbyWilliamson。

Who’sthebetterforthat？Well，well，mydearsir，don’tlooksodepressed。WecandolittlemoreuntilnextSaturday，andinthemeantimeImaymakeoneortwoinquiriesmyself。"

NextmorningwehadanotefromMissSmith，recountingshortlyandaccuratelytheveryincidentswhichIhadseen，butthepithoftheletterlayinthepostscript：——

"Iamsurethatyouwillrespectmyconfidence，Mr。Holmes，whenItellyouthatmyplaceherehasbecomedifficultowingtothefactthatmyemployerhasproposedmarriagetome。Iamconvincedthathisfeelingsaremostdeepandmosthonourable。

Atthesametimemypromiseis，ofcourse，given。Hetookmyrefusalveryseriously，butalsoverygently。Youcanunderstand，however，thatthesituationisalittlestrained。"

"Ouryoungfriendseemstobegettingintodeepwaters，"

saidHolmes，thoughtfully，ashefinishedtheletter。

"ThecasecertainlypresentsmorefeaturesofinterestandmorepossibilityofdevelopmentthanIhadoriginallythought。

Ishouldbenonetheworseforaquiet，peacefuldayinthecountry，andIaminclinedtorundownthisafternoonandtestoneortwotheorieswhichIhaveformed。"

Holmes’squietdayinthecountryhadasingulartermination，forhearrivedatBakerStreetlateintheeveningwithacutlipandadiscolouredlumpuponhisforehead，besidesageneralairofdissipationwhichwouldhavemadehisownpersonthefittingobjectofaScotlandYardinvestigation。Hewasimmenselytickledbyhisownadventures，andlaughedheartilyasherecountedthem。

"Igetsolittleactiveexercisethatitisalwaysatreat，"

saidhe。"YouareawarethatIhavesomeproficiencyinthegoodoldBritishsportofboxing。Occasionallyitisofservice。To—day，forexample，Ishouldhavecometoveryignominiousgriefwithoutit。"

Ibeggedhimtotellmewhathadoccurred。

"IfoundthatcountrypubwhichIhadalreadyrecommendedtoyournotice，andthereImademydiscreetinquiries。Iwasinthebar，andagarrulouslandlordwasgivingmeallthatI

wanted。Williamsonisawhite—beardedman，andhelivesalonewithasmallstaffofservantsattheHall。Thereissomerumourthatheisorhasbeenaclergyman；butoneortwoincidentsofhisshortresidenceattheHallstruckmeaspeculiarlyunecclesiastical。Ihavealreadymadesomeinquiriesataclericalagency，andtheytellmethatthereWASamanofthatnameinorderswhosecareerhasbeenasingularlydarkone。

Thelandlordfurtherinformedmethatthereareusuallyweek—endvisitors——`awarmlot，sir’——attheHall，andespeciallyonegentlemanwitharedmoustache，Mr。Woodleybyname，whowasalwaysthere。Wehadgotasfarasthiswhenwhoshouldwalkinbutthegentlemanhimself，whohadbeendrinkinghisbeerinthetap—roomandhadheardthewholeconversation。WhowasI？

WhatdidIwant？WhatdidImeanbyaskingquestions？Hehadafineflowoflanguage，andhisadjectiveswereveryvigorous。

Heendedastringofabusebyaviciousback—handerwhichIfailedtoentirelyavoid。Thenextfewminutesweredelicious。Itwasastraightleftagainstasloggingruffian。Iemergedasyouseeme。Mr。Woodleywenthomeinacart。Soendedmycountrytrip，anditmustbeconfessedthat，howeverenjoyable，mydayontheSurreyborderhasnotbeenmuchmoreprofitablethanyourown。"

TheThursdaybroughtusanotherletterfromourclient。

"Youwillnotbesurprised，Mr。Holmes，"saidshe，"tohearthatIamleavingMr。Carruthers’semployment。Eventhehighpaycannotreconcilemetothediscomfortsofmysituation。

OnSaturdayIcomeuptotownandIdonotintendtoreturn。

Mr。Carruthershasgotatrap，andsothedangersofthelonelyroad，ifthereeverwereanydangers，arenowover。

"Astothespecialcauseofmyleaving，itisnotmerelythestrainedsituationwithMr。Carruthers，butitisthereappearanceofthatodiousman，Mr。Woodley。Hewasalwayshideous，buthelooksmoreawfulthanevernow，forheappearstohavehadanaccidentandheismuchdisfigured。Isawhimoutofthewindow，butIamgladtosayIdidnotmeethim。

HehadalongtalkwithMr。Carruthers，whoseemedmuchexcitedafterwards。Woodleymustbestayingintheneighbourhood，forhedidnotsleephere，andyetIcaughtaglimpseofhimagainthismorningslinkingaboutintheshrubbery。Iwouldsoonerhaveasavagewildanimallooseabouttheplace。IloatheandfearhimmorethanIcansay。HowCANMr。Carruthersenduresuchacreatureforamoment？However，allmytroubleswillbeoveronSaturday。"

"SoItrust，Watson；soItrust，"saidHolmes，gravely。