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〃'I have seen your son； and I am convinced that for some reason of
your own you are concealing him from the world。 I have no idea what
your motives are in cutting him off in this fashion； but I am sure
that he is no longer a free agent。 I warn you； Colonel Emsworth；
that until I am assured as to the safety and well…being of my friend I
shall never desist in my efforts to get to the bottom of the
mystery； and I shall certainly not allow myself to be intimidated by
anything which you may say or do。'
〃The old fellow looked diabolical； and I really thought he was about
to attack me。 I have said that he was a gaunt； fierce old giant； and
though I am no weakling I might have been hard put to it to hold my
own against him。 However； after a long glare of rage he turned upon
his heel and walked out of the room。 For my part； I took the appointed
train in the morning； with the full intention of coming straight to
you and asking for your advice and assistance at the appointment for
which I had already written。〃
Such was the problem which my visitor laid before me。 It
presented； as the astute reader will have already perceived； few
difficulties in its solution； for a very limited choice of
alternatives must get to the root of the matter。 Still； elementary
as it was； there were points of interest and novelty about it which
may excuse my placing it upon record。 I now proceeded； using my
familiar method of logical analysis； to narrow down the possible
solutions。
〃The servants；〃 I asked； 〃how many were in the house？〃
〃To the best of my belief there were only the old butler and his
wife。 They seemed to live in the simplest fashion。〃
〃There was no servant； then； in the detached house？〃
〃None； unless the little man with the beard acted as such。 He
seemed； however； to be quite a superior person。〃
〃That seems very suggestive。 Had you any indication that food was
conveyed from the one house to the other？〃
〃Now that you mention it； I did see old Ralph carrying a basket down
the garden walk and going in the direction of this house。 The idea
of food did not occur to me at the moment。〃
〃Did you make any local inquiries？〃
〃Yes； I did。 I spoke to the station…master and also to the innkeeper
in the village。 I simply asked if they knew anything of my old
comrade； Godfrey Emsworth。 Both of them assured me that he had gone
for a voyage round the world。 He had come home and then had almost
at once started off again。 The story was evidently universally
accepted。〃
〃You said nothing of your suspicions？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃That was very wise。 The matter should certainly be inquired into。 I
will go back with you to Tuxbury Old Park。〃
〃To…day？〃
It happened that at the moment I was clearing up the case which my
friend Watson has described as that of the Abbey School； in which
the Duke of Greyminster was so deeply involved。 I had also a
commission from the Sultan of Turkey which called for immediate
action； as political consequences of the gravest kind might arise from
its neglect。 Therefore it was not until the beginning of the next
week； as my diary records； that I was able to start forth on my
mission to Bedfordshire in company with Mr。 James M。 Dodd。 As we drove
to Euston we picked up a grave and taciturn gentleman of iron…gray
aspect； with whom I had made the necessary arrangements。
〃This is an old friend；〃 said I to Dodd。 〃It is possible that his
presence may be entirely unnecessary； and； on the other hand； it may
be essential。 It is not necessary at the present stage to go further
into the matter。〃
The narratives of Watson； have accustomed the reader； no doubt； to
the fact that I do not waste words or disclose my thoughts while a
case is actually under consideration。 Dodd seemed surprised； but
nothing more was said； and the three of us continued our journey
together。 in the train I asked Dodd one more question which I wished
our companion to hear。
〃You say that you saw your friend's face quite clearly at the
window； so clearly that you are sure of his identity？〃
〃I have no doubt about it whatever。 His nose was pressed against the
glass。 The lamplight shone full upon him。〃
〃It could not have been someone resembling him？〃
〃No； no； it was he。〃
〃But you say he was changed？〃
〃Only in colour。 His face was… how shall I describe it？… it was of a
fish…belly whiteness。 It was bleached。〃
〃Was it equally pale all over？〃
〃I think not。 It was his brow which I saw so clearly as it was
pressed against the window。〃
〃Did you call to him？〃
〃I was too startled and horrified for the moment。 Then I pursued
him； as I have told you； but without result。〃
My case was practically complete； and there was only one small
incident needed to round it off。 When； after considerable drive； we
arrived at the strange old rambling house which my client had
described； it was Ralph； the elderly butler； who opened the door。 I
had requisitioned the carriage for the day and had asked my elderly
friend to remain within it unless we should summon him。 Ralph； a
little wrinkled old fellow； was in the conventional costume of black
coat and pepper…and…salt trousers； with only one curious variant。 He
wore brown leather gloves； which at sight of us he instantly
shuffled off； laying them down on the hall…table as we passed in。 I
have； as my friend Watson may have remarked； an abnormally acute set
of senses； and a faint but incisive scent was apparent。 It seemed to
centre on the hall…table。 I turned； placed my hat there； knocked it
off； stooped to pick it up； and contrived to bring my nose within a
foot of the gloves。 Yes； it was undoubtedly from them that the curious
tarry odour was oozing。 I passed on into the study with my case
complete。 Alas； that I should have to show my hand so when I tell my
own story！ It was by concealing such links in the chain that Watson
was enabled to produce his meretricious finales。
Colonel Emsworth was not in his room； but he came quickly enough
on receipt of Ralph's message。 We heard his quick； heavy step in the
passage。 The door was flung open and he rushed in with bristling beard
and twisted features； as terrible an old man as ever I have seen。 He
held our cards in his hand； and he tore them up and stamped on the
fragments。
〃Have I not told you； you infernal busybody； that you are warned off
the premises？ Never dare to show your damned face here again。 If you
enter again without my leave I shall be within my rights if I use
violence。 I'll shoot you； sir！ By God； I will！ As to you； sir；〃
turning upon me； 〃I extend the same warning to you。 I am familiar with
your ignoble profession； but you must take your reputed talents to
some other field。 There is no opening for them here。〃
〃I cannot leave here；〃 said my client firmly； 〃until I hear from
Godfrey's own lips that he is under no restraint。〃
Our involuntary host rang the bell。
〃Ralph；〃 he said； 〃telephone down to the county police and ask the
inspector to send up two constables。 Tell him there are burglars in
the house。〃
〃One moment；〃 sai