“The servants,” I asked; “how many were in the house?”
“To the best of my belief there were only the old butler and hiswife. 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. Heseemed, however, to be quite a superior person.”
“That seems very suggestive. Had you any indication that foodwas conveyed from the one house to the other?”
“Now that you mention it, I did see old Ralph carrying a basketdown 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 theinnkeeper in the village. I simply asked if they knew anythingof my old comrade, Godfrey Emsworth. Both of them assuredme that he had gone for a voyage round the world. He had comehome and then had almost at once started off again. The story wasevidently universally accepted.”
“You said nothing of your suspicions?”
“Nothing.”
“That was very wise. The matter should certainly be inquiredinto. I will go back with you to Tuxbury Old Park.”
“To-day?”
It happened that at the moment I was clearing up the casewhich my friend Watson has described as that of the AbbeySchool, in which the Duke of Greyminster was so deeply involved.
I had also a commission from the Sultan of Turkey which calledfor immediate action, as political consequences of the gravestkind might arise from its neglect. Therefore it was not until thebeginning of the next week, as my diary records, that I was ableto start forth on my mission to Bedfordshire in company with Mr.
James M. Dodd. As we drove to Euston we picked up a grave andtacitum gentleman of iron-gray aspect, with whom I had made thenecessary arrangements.
“This is an old friend,” said I to Dodd. “It is possible that hispresence may be entirely unnecessary, and, on the other hand,it may be essential. It is not necessary at the present stage to gofurther into the matter.”
The narratives of Watson have accustomed the reader, nodoubt, to the fact that I do not waste words or disclose mythoughts while a case is actually under consideration. Doddseemed surprised, but nothing more was said, and the three of uscontinued our journey together. In the train I asked Dodd onemore question which I wished our companion to hear.
“You say that you saw your friend’s face quite clearly at thewindow, so clearly that you are sure of his identity?”
“I have no doubt about it whatever. His nose was pressedagainst 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 wasof 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 waspressed against the window.”
“Did you call to him?”
“I was too startled and horrified for the moment. Then Ipursued him, as I have told you, but without result.”
My case was practically complete, and there was only one smallincident needed to round it off. When, after a considerable drive,we arrived at the strange old rambling house which my clienthad described, it was Ralph, the elderly butler, who opened thedoor. I had requisitioned the carriage for the day and had askedmy elderly friend to remain within it unless we should summonhim. Ralph, a little wrinkled old fellow, was in the conventionalcostume of black coat and pepper-and-salt trousers, with only onecurious variant. He wore brown leather gloves, which at sight ofus he instantly shuffled off, laying them down on the hall-tableas we passed in. I have, as my friend Watson may have remarked,an abnormally acute set of senses, and a faint but incisive scentwas apparent. It seemed to centre on the hall table. I turned,placed my hat there, knocked it off, stooped to pick it up, andcontrived to bring my nose within a foot of the gloves. Yes, it wasundoubtedly from them that the curious tarry odour was oozing.
I passed on into the study with my case complete. Alas, that Ishould have to show my hand so when I tell my own story! It wasby concealing such links in the chain that Watson was enabled toproduce his meretricious finales.
Colonel Emsworth was not in his room, but he came quicklyenough on receipt of Ralph’s message. We heard his quick, heavystep in the passage. The door was flung open and he rushed inwith bristling beard and twisted features, as terrible an old man asever I have seen. He held our cards in his hand, and he tore themup and stamped on the fragments.
“Have I not told you, you infernal busybody, that you arewarned off the premises? Never dare to show your damned facehere again. If you enter again without my leave I shall be withinmy rights if I use violence. I’ll shoot you, sir! By God, I will! As toyou, sir,” turning upon me, “I extend the same warning to you. Iam familiar with your ignoble profession, but you must take yourreputed talents to some other field. There is no opening for themhere.”
“I cannot leave here,” said my client firmly, “until I hear fromGodfrey’s own lips that he is under no restraint.”
Our involuntary host rang the bell.
“Ralph,” he said, “telephone down to the county police andask the inspector to send up two constables. Tell him there areburglars in the house.”
“One moment,” said I. “You must be aware, Mr. Dodd, thatColonel Emsworth is within his rights and that we have no legalstatus within his house. On the other hand, he should recognizethat your action is prompted entirely by solicitude for his son.
I venture to hope that if I were allowed to have five minutes’
conversation with Colonel Emsworth I could certainly alter hisview of the matter.”
“I am not so easily altered,” said the old soldier. “Ralph, do whatI have told you. What the devil are you waiting for? Ring up thepolice!”