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〃Tuxbury Old Hall is inaccessible… five miles from anywhere。 There
was no trap at the station； so I had to walk； carrying my suitcase；
and it was nearly dark before I arrived。 It is a great wandering
house； standing in a considerable park。 I should judge it was of all
sorts of ages and styles； starting on a half…timbered Elizabethan
foundation and ending in a Victorian portico。 Inside it was all
panelling and tapestry and half…effaced old pictures； a house of
shadows and mystery。 There was a butler； old Ralph； who seemed about
the same age as the house； and there was his wife； who might have been
older。 She had been Godfrey's nurse； and I had heard him speak of
her as second only to his mother in his affections； so I was drawn
to her in spite of her queer appearance。 The mother I liked also… a
gentle little white mouse of a woman。 It was only the colonel
himself whom I barred。
〃We had a bit of barney right away； and I should have walked back to
the station if I had not felt that it might be playing his game for me
to do so。 I was shown straight into his study； and there I found
him； a huge； bow…backed man with a smoky skin and a straggling gray
beard； seated behind his littered desk。 A red…veined nose jutted out
like a vulture's beak； and two fierce gray eyes glared at me from
under tufted brows。 I could understand now why Godfrey seldom spoke of
his father。
〃'Well； sir；' said he in a rasping voice； 'I should be interested to
know the real reasons for this visit。'
〃I answered that I had explained them in my letter to his wife。
〃'Yes； yes； you said that you had known Godfrey in Africa。 We
have； of course； only your word for that。'
〃'I have his letters to me in my pocket。'
〃'Kindly let me see them。'
〃He glanced at the two which I handed him； and then he tossed them
back。
〃'Well； what then？' he asked。
〃'I was fond of your son Godfrey； sir。 Many ties and memories united
us。 Is it not natural that I should wonder at his sudden silence and
should wish to know what has become of him？'
〃'I have some recollections； sir； that I had already corresponded
with you and had told you what had become of him。 He has gone upon a
voyage round the world。 His health was in a poor way after his African
experiences； and both his mother and I were of opinion that complete
rest and change were needed。 Kindly pass that explanation on to any
other friends who may be interested in the matter。'
〃'Certainly；' I answered。 'But perhaps you would have the goodness
to let me have the name of the steamer and of the line by which he
sailed； together with the date。 I have no doubt that I should be
able to get a letter through to him。'
〃My request seemed both to puzzle and to irritate my host。 His great
eyebrows came down over his eyes； and he tapped his fingers
impatiently on the table。 He looked up at last with the expression
of one who has seen his adversary make a dangerous move at chess；
and has decided how to meet it。
〃'Many people； Mr。 Dodd；' said he； 'would take offence at your
infernal pertinacity and would think that this insistence had
reached the point of damned impertinence。'
〃'You must put it down； sir； to my real love for your son。'
〃'Exactly。 I have already made every allowance upon that score。 I
must ask you； however； to drop these inquiries。 Every family has its
own inner knowledge and its own motives； which cannot always be made
clear to outsiders； however well…intentioned。 My wife is anxious to
hear something of Godfrey's past which you are in a position to tell
her； but I would ask you to let the present and the future alone； Such
inquiries serve no useful purpose； sir； and place us in a delicate and
difficult position。'
〃So I came to a dead end； Mr。 Holmes。 There was no getting past
it。 I could only pretend to accept the situation and register a vow
inwardly that I would never rest until my friend's fate had been
cleared up。 It was a dull evening。 We dined quietly； the three of
us； in a gloomy faded old room。 The lady questioned me eagerly about
her son； but the old man seemed morose and depressed。 I was so bored
by the whole proceeding that I made an excuse as soon as I decently
could and retired to my bedroom。 It was a large； bare room on the
ground floor； as gloomy as the rest of the house； but after a year
of sleeping upon the veldt； Mr。 Holmes； one is not too particular
about one's quarters。 I opened the curtains and looked out into the
garden； remarking that it was a fine night with a bright half…moon。
Then I sat down by the roaring fire with the lamp on a table beside
me； and endeavoured to distract my mind with a novel。 I was
interrupted； however； by Ralph； the old butler； who came in with a
fresh supply of coals。
〃'I thought you might run short in the night…time； sir。 It is bitter
weather and these rooms are cold。'
〃He hesitated before leaving the room； and when I looked round he
was standing facing me with a wistful look upon his wrinkled face。
〃'Beg your pardon； sir； but I could not help hearing what you said
of young Master Godfrey at dinner。 You know； sir； that my wife
nursed him； and so I may say I am his foster…father。 It's natural we
should take an interest。 And you say he carried himself well； sir？'
〃'There was never a braver man in the regiment。 He pulled me out
once from under the rifles of the Boers； or maybe I should not be
here。'
〃The old butler rubbed his skinny hands。
〃'Yes； sir； yes； that is Master Godfrey all over。 He was always
courageous。 There's not a tree in the park； sir； that he has not
climbed。 Nothing would stop him。 He was a fine boy… and oh； sir； he
was a fine man。'
〃I sprang to my feet。
〃'Look here！' I cried。 'You say he was。 You speak as if he were
dead。 What is all this mystery？ What has become of Godfrey Emsworth？'
〃I gripped the old man by the shoulder； but he shrank away。
〃'I don't know what you mean； sir。 Ask the master about Master
Godfrey。 He knows。 It is not for me to interfere。'
〃He was leaving the room； but I held his arm。
〃'Listen；' I said。 'You are going to answer one question before
you leave if I have to hold you all night。 Is Godfrey dead？'
〃He could not face my eyes。 He was like a man hypnotized。 The answer
was dragged from his lips。 It was a terrible and unexpected one。
〃'I wish to God he was！' he cried； and； tearing himself free； he
dashed from the room。
〃You will think； Mr。 Holmes； that I returned to my chair in no
very happy state of mind。 The old man's words seemed to me to bear
only one interpretation。 Clearly my poor friend had become involved in
some criminal or； at the least； disreputable transaction which touched
the family honour。 That stern old man had sent his son away and hidden
him from the world lest some scandal should come to light。 Godfrey was
a reckless fellow。 He was easily influenced by those around him。 No
doubt he had fallen into bad hands and been misled to his ruin。 It was
a piteous business； if it was indeed so； but even now it was my duty
to hunt him out and see if I could aid