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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 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