“My dear fellow,” said he, “Holmes, with all his wisdom, did notforesee some things which have happened since I have been onthe moor. You understand me? I am sure that you are the last manin the world who would wish to be a spoil-sport. I must go outalone.”
It put me in a most awkward position. I was at a loss what tosay or what to do, and before I had made up my mind he pickedup his cane and was gone.
But when I came to think the matter over my consciencereproached me bitterly for having on any pretext allowed himto go out of my sight. I imagined what my feelings would be ifI had to return to you and to confess that some misfortune hadoccurred through my disregard for your instructions. I assure youmy cheeks flushed at the very thought. It might not even now betoo late to overtake him, so I set off at once in the direction ofMerripit House.
I hurried along the road at the top of my speed withoutseeing anything of Sir Henry, until I came to the point wherethe moor path branches off. There, fearing that perhaps I hadcome in the wrong direction after all, I mounted a hill fromwhich I could command a view—the same hill which is cutinto the dark quarry. Thence I saw him at once. He was on themoor path, about a quarter of a mile off, and a lady was by hisside who could only be Miss Stapleton. It was clear that therewas already an understanding between them and that they hadmet by appointment. They were walking slowly along in deepconversation, and I saw her making quick little movements of herhands as if she were very earnest in what she was saying, whilehe listened intently, and once or twice shook his head in strongdissent. I stood among the rocks watching them, very muchpuzzled as to what I should do next. To follow them and breakinto their intimate conversation seemed to be an outrage, and yetmy clear duty was never for an instant to let him out of my sight.
To act the spy upon a friend was a hateful task. Still, I could seeno better course than to observe him from the hill, and to clearmy conscience by confessing to him afterwards what I had done.
It is true that if any sudden danger had threatened him I was toofar away to be of use, and yet I am sure that you will agree withme that the position was very difficult, and that there was nothingmore which I could do.
Our friend, Sir Henry, and the lady had halted on the path andwere standing deeply absorbed in their conversation, when I wassuddenly aware that I was not the only witness of their interview.
A wisp of green floating in the air caught my eye, and anotherglance showed me that it was carried on a stick by a man whowas moving among the broken ground. It was Stapleton with hisbutterfly-net. He was very much closer to the pair than I was,and he appeared to be moving in their direction. At this instantSir Henry suddenly drew Miss Stapleton to his side. His arm wasround her, but it seemed to me that she was straining away fromhim with her face averted. He stooped his head to hers, and sheraised one hand as if in protest. Next moment I saw them springapart and turn hurriedly round. Stapleton was the cause of theinterruption. He was running wildly towards them, his absurd netdangling behind him. He gesticulated and almost danced withexcitement in front of the lovers. What the scene meant I couldnot imagine, but it seemed to me that Stapleton was abusing SirHenry, who offered explanations, which became more angry asthe other refused to accept them. The lady stood by in haughtysilence. Finally Stapleton turned upon his heel and beckoned in aperemptory way to his sister, who, after an irresolute glance at SirHenry, walked off by the side of her brother. The naturalist’s angrygestures showed that the lady was included in his displeasure. Thebaronet stood for a minute looking after them, and then he walkedslowly back the way that he had come, his head hanging, the verypicture of dejection.
What all this meant I could not imagine, but I was deeplyashamed to have witnessed so intimate a scene without my friend’sknowledge. I ran down the hill therefore and met the baronet atthe bottom. His face was flushed with anger and his brows werewrinkled, like one who is at his wit’s ends what to do.
“Halloa, Watson! Where have you dropped from?” said he. “Youdon’t mean to say that you came after me in spite of all?”
I explained everything to him: how I had found it impossible toremain behind, how I had followed him, and how I had witnessedall that had occurred. For an instant his eyes blazed at me, but myfrankness disarmed his anger, and he broke at last into a ratherrueful laugh.
“You would have thought the middle of that prairie a fairly safeplace for a man to be private,” said he, “but, by thunder, the wholecountry-side seems to have been out to see me do my wooing—and a mighty poor wooing at that! Where had you engaged a seat?”
“I was on that hill.”
“Quite in the back row, eh? But her brother was well up to thefront. Did you see him come out on us?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Did he ever strike you as being crazy—this brother of hers?”
“I can’t say that he ever did.”
“I dare say not. I always thought him sane enough until to-day,but you can take it from me that either he or I ought to be in astrait-jacket. What’s the matter with me, anyhow? You’ve livednear me for some weeks, Watson. Tell me straight, now! Is thereanything that would prevent me from making a good husband to awoman that I loved?”
“I should say not.”
“He can’t object to my worldly position, so it must be myselfthat he has this down on. What has he against me? I never hurtman or woman in my life that I know of. And yet he would not somuch as let me touch the tips of her fingers.”
“Did he say so?”