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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 him。 I was anxiously
pondering the matter when I looked up； and there was Godfrey
Emsworth standing before me。〃
My client had paused as one in deep emotion。
〃Pray continue；〃 I said。 〃Your problem presents some very unusual
features。〃
〃He was outside the window； Mr。 Holmes； with his face pressed
against the glass。 I have told you that I looked out at the night。
When I did so I left the curtains partly open。 His figure was framed
in this gap。 The window came down to the ground and I could see the
whole length of it； but it was his face which held my gaze。 He was
deadly pale… never have I seen a man so white。 I reckon ghosts may
look like that； but his eyes met mine； and they were the eyes of a
living man。 He sprang back when he saw that I was looking at him；
and he vanished into the darkness。
〃There was something shocking about the man； Mr。 Holmes。 It wasn't
merely that ghastly face glimmering as white as cheese in the
darkness。 It was more subtle than that… something slinking；
something furtive； something guilty… something very unlike the
frank； manly lad that I had known。 It left a feeling of horror in my
mind。
〃But when a man has been soldiering for a year or two with brother
Boer as a playmate； he keeps his nerve and acts quickly。 Godfrey had
hardly vanished before I was at the window。 There was an awkward
catch； and I was some little time before I could throw it up。 Then I
nipped through and ran down the garden path in the direction that I
thought he might have taken。
〃It was a long path and the light was not very good； but it seemed
to me something was moving ahead of me。 I ran on and called his
name； but it was no use。 When I got to the end of the path there
were several others branching in different directions to various
outhouses。 I stood hesitating； and as I did so I heard distinctly
the sound of a closing door。 It was not behind me in the house； but
ahead of me； somewhere in the darkness。 That was enough； Mr。 Holmes；
to assure me that what I had seen was not a vision。 Godfrey had run
away from me； and he had shut a door behind him。 Of that I was
certain。
〃There was nothing more I could do； and I spent an uneasy night
turning the matter over in my mind and trying to find some theory
which would cover the facts。 Next day I found the colonel rather
more conciliatory； and as his wife remarked that there were some
places of interest in the neighbourhood； it gave me an opening to
ask whether my presence for one more night would incommode them。 A
somewhat grudging acquiescence from the old man gave me a clear day in
which to make my observations。 I was already perfectly convinced
that Godfrey was in hiding somewhere near； but where and why
remained to be solved。
〃The house was so large and so rambling that a regiment might be hid
away in it and no one the wiser。 If the secret lay there it was
difficult for me to penetrate it。 But the door which I had heard close
was certainly not in the house。 I must explore the garden and see what
I could find。 There was no difficulty in the way； for the old people
were busy in their own fashion and left me to my own devices。
〃There were several small outhouses； but at the end of the garden
there was a detached building of some size… large enough for a
gardener's or a gamekeeper's residence。 Could this be the place whence
the sound of that shutting door had come？ I approached it in a
careless fashion as though I were strolling aimlessly round the
grounds。 As I did so； a small； brisk； bearded man in a black coat
and bowler hat… not at all the gardener type… came out of the door。 To
my surprise； he locked it after him and put the key in his pocket。
Then he looked at me with some surprise on his face。
〃'Are you a visitor here？' he asked。
〃I explained that I was and that I was a friend of Godfrey's。
〃'What a pity that he should be away on his travels； for he would
have so liked to see me；' I continued。
〃'Quite so。 Exactly；' said he with a rather guilty air。 'No doubt
you will renew your visit at some more propitious time。' He passed on；
but when I turned I observed that he was standing watching me；
half…concealed by the laurels at the far end of the garden。
〃I had a good look at that little house as I passed it； but the
windows were heavily curtained； and； so far as one could see； it was
empty。 I might spoil my own game and even be ordered off the
premises if I were too audacious； for I was still conscious that I was
being watched。 Therefore； I strolled back to the house and waited
for night before I went on with my inquiry。 When all was dark and
quiet I slipped out of my window and made my way as silently as
possible to the mysterious lodge。
〃I have said that it was heavily curtained； but now I found that the
windows were shuttered as well。 Some light； however； was breaking
through one of them； so I concentrated my attention upon this。 I was
in luck； for the curtain had not been quite closed； and there was a
crack in the shutter； so that I could see the inside of the room。 It
was a cheery place enough； a bright lamp and a blazing fire。
Opposite to me was seated the little man whom I had seen in the
morning。 He was smoking a pipe and reading a paper。〃
〃What paper？〃 I asked。
My client seemed annoyed at the interruption of his narrative。
〃Can it matter？〃 he asked。
〃It is most essential〃
〃I really took no notice。〃
〃Possibly you observed whether it was a broad…leafed paper or of
that smaller type which one associates with weeklies。〃
〃Now that you mention it； it was not large。 It might have been the
Spectator。 However； I had little thought to spare upon such details；
for a second man was seated with his back to the window； and I could
swear that this second man was Godfrey。 I could not see his face；
but I knew the familiar slope of his shoulders。 He was leaning upon
his elbow in an attitude of great melancholy； his body turned
towards the fire。 I was hesitating as to what I should do when there
was a sharp tap on my shoulder； and there was Colonel Emsworth
beside me。
〃'This way； sir！' said he in a low voice。 He walked in silence to
the house； and I followed him into my own bedroom。 He had picked up
a time…table in the hall。
〃'There is a train to London at 8：30；' said he。 'The trap will be at
the door at eight。'
〃He was white with rage； and； indeed； I felt myself in so
difficult a position that I could only stammer out a few incoherent
apologies in which I tried to excuse myself by urging my anxiety for
my friend。
〃'The matter will not bear discussion；' said he abruptly。 'You
have made a most damnable intrusion into the privacy of our family。
You were here as a guest and you have become a spy。 I have nothing
more to say； sir； save that I have no wish ever to see you again。'
〃At this I lost my temper； Mr。 Holmes； and I spoke with some warmth。
〃'I have seen your son； and I am convinced that for some reason of
your