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He opened the door； and we stepped into the hall。 The droning
sound swelled louder upon our ears until it became one long； deep wail
of distress。 It came from upstairs。 Holmes darted up； and I followed
him。 He pushed open a half…closed door； and we both stood appalled
at the sight before us。
A woman； young and beautiful； was lying dead upon the bed。 Her
calm pale face； with dim； wide…opened blue eyes； looked upward from
amid a great tangle of golden hair。 At the foot of the bed； half
sitting； half kneeling； his face buried in the clothes； was a young
man； whose frame was racked by his sobs。 So absorbed was he by his
bitter grief； that he never looked up until Holmes's hand was on his
shoulder。
〃Are you Mr。 Godfrey Staunton？〃
〃Yes； yes； I am… but you are too late。 She is dead。〃
The man was so dazed that he could not be made to understand that we
were anything but doctors who had been sent to his assistance。
Holmes was endeavouring to utter a few words of consolation and to
explain the alarm which had been caused to his friends by his sudden
disappearance when there was a step upon the stairs； and there was the
heavy； stern； questioning face of Dr。 Armstrong at the door。
〃So； gentlemen；〃 said he； 〃you have attained your end and have
certainly chosen a particularly delicate moment for your intrusion。
I would not brawl in the presence of death； but I can assure you
that if I were a younger man your monstrous conduct would not pass
with impunity。〃
〃Excuse me； Dr。 Armstrong； I think we are a little at
cross…purposes；〃 said my friend； with dignity。 〃If you could step
downstairs with us； we may each be able to give some light to the
other upon this miserable affair。〃
A minute later； the grim doctor and ourselves were in the
sitting…room below。
〃Well； sir？〃 said he。
〃I wish you to understand； in the first place； that I am not
employed by Lord Mount…James； and that my sympathies in this matter
are entirely against that nobleman。 When a man is lost it is my duty
to ascertain his fate； but having done so the matter ends so far as
I am concerned； and so long as there is nothing criminal I am much
more anxious to hush up private scandals than to give them
publicity。 If； as I imagine； there is no breach of the law in this
matter； you can absolutely depend upon my discretion and my
cooperation in keeping the facts out of the papers。〃
Dr。 Armstrong took a quick step forward and wrung Holmes by the
hand。
〃You are a good fellow；〃 said he。 〃I had misjudged you。 I thank
heaven that my compunction at leaving poor Staunton all alone in
this plight caused me to turn my carriage back and so to make your
acquaintance。 Knowing as much as you do； the situation is very
easily explained。 A year ago Godfrey Staunton lodged in London for a
time and became passionately attached to his landlady's daughter； whom
he married。 She was as good as she was beautiful and as intelligent as
she was good。 No man need be ashamed of such a wife。 But Godfrey was
the heir to this crabbed old nobleman； and it was quite certain that
the news of his marriage would have been the end of his inheritance。 I
knew the lad well； and I loved him for his many excellent qualities。 I
did all I could to help him to keep things straight。 We did our very
best to keep the thing from everyone； for； when once such a whisper
gets about； it is not long before everyone has heard it。 Thanks to
this lonely cottage and his own discretion； Godfrey has up to now
succeeded。 Their secret was known to no one save to me and to one
excellent servant； who has at present gone for assistance to
Trumpington。 But at last there came a terrible blow in the shape of
dangerous illness to his wife。 It was consumption of the most virulent
kind。 The poor boy was half crazed with grief； and yet he had to go to
London to play this match； for he could not get out of it without
explanations which would expose his secret。 I tried to cheer him up by
wire； and he sent me one in reply； imploring me to do all I could。
This was the telegram which you appear in some inexplicable way to
have seen。 I did not tell him how urgent the danger was； for I knew
that he could do no good here； but I sent the truth to the girl's
father； and he very injudiciously communicated it to Godfrey。 The
result was that he came straight away in a state bordering on
frenzy； and has remained in the same state； kneeling at the end of her
bed； until this morning death put an end to her sufferings。 That is
all； Mr。 Holmes； and I am sure that I can rely upon your discretion
and that of your friend。〃
Holmes grasped the doctor's hand。
〃Come； Watson；〃 said he； and we passed from that house of grief into
the pale sunlight of the winter day。
…THE END…
。