\"Itistimeforustogo。\"
\"CanIseeherfirst？\"
\"No，sheisnotconscious。Mr。SherlockHolmes，IonlyhopethatifeveragainIhaveanimportantcaseIshallhavethegoodfortunetohaveyoubymyside。\"
Westoodatthewindowandwatchedthecabdriveaway。AsI
turnedbackmyeyecaughtthepelletofpaperwhichtheprisonerhadtosseduponthetable。ItwasthenotewithwhichHolmeshaddecoyedhim。
\"Seeifyoucanreadit，Watson，\"saidhe，withasmile。
Itcontainednoword，butthislittlelineofdancingmen：——
GRAPHIC
\"IfyouusethecodewhichIhaveexplained，\"saidHolmes，\"youwillfindthatitsimplymeans`Comehereatonce。’Iwasconvincedthatitwasaninvitationwhichhewouldnotrefuse，sincehecouldneverimaginethatitcouldcomefromanyonebutthelady。Andso，mydearWatson，wehaveendedbyturningthedancingmentogoodwhentheyhavesooftenbeentheagentsofevil，andIthinkthatIhavefulfilledmypromiseofgivingyousomethingunusualforyournote—book。Three—fortyisourtrain，andIfancyweshouldbebackinBakerStreetfordinner。
Onlyonewordofepilogue。TheAmerican，AbeSlaney，wascondemnedtodeathatthewinterassizesatNorwich；buthispenaltywaschangedtopenalservitudeinconsiderationofmitigatingcircumstances，andthecertaintythatHiltonCubitthadfiredthefirstshot。OfMrs。HiltonCubittIonlyknowthatIhaveheardsherecoveredentirely，andthatshestillremainsawidow，devotingherwholelifetothecareofthepoorandtotheadministrationofherhusband’sestate。
IV。———TheAdventureoftheSolitaryCyclist。
FROMtheyears1894to1901inclusiveMr。SherlockHolmeswasaverybusyman。Itissafetosaythattherewasnopubliccaseofanydifficultyinwhichhewasnotconsultedduringthoseeightyears，andtherewerehundredsofprivatecases，someofthemofthemostintricateandextraordinarycharacter，inwhichheplayedaprominentpart。Manystartlingsuccessesandafewunavoidablefailuresweretheoutcomeofthislongperiodofcontinuouswork。AsIhavepreservedveryfullnotesofallthesecases，andwasmyselfpersonallyengagedinmanyofthem，itmaybeimaginedthatitisnoeasytasktoknowwhichI
shouldselecttolaybeforethepublic。Ishall，however，preservemyformerrule，andgivethepreferencetothosecaseswhichderivetheirinterestnotsomuchfromthebrutalityofthecrimeasfromtheingenuityanddramaticqualityofthesolution。ForthisreasonIwillnowlaybeforethereaderthefactsconnectedwithMissVioletSmith，thesolitarycyclistofCharlington，andthecurioussequelofourinvestigation，whichculminatedinunexpectedtragedy。Itistruethatthecircumstancesdidnotadmitofanystrikingillustrationofthosepowersforwhichmyfriendwasfamous，butthereweresomepointsaboutthecasewhichmadeitstandoutinthoselongrecordsofcrimefromwhichIgatherthematerialfortheselittlenarratives。
Onreferringtomynote—bookfortheyear1895IfindthatitwasuponSaturday，the23rdofApril，thatwefirstheardofMissVioletSmith。Hervisitwas，Iremember，extremelyunwelcometoHolmes，forhewasimmersedatthemomentinaveryabstruseandcomplicatedproblemconcerningthepeculiarpersecutiontowhichJohnVincentHarden，thewell—knowntobaccomillionaire，hadbeensubjected。Myfriend，wholovedaboveallthingsprecisionandconcentrationofthought，resentedanythingwhichdistractedhisattentionfromthematterinhand。Andyetwithoutaharshnesswhichwasforeigntohisnatureitwasimpossibletorefusetolistentothestoryoftheyoungandbeautifulwoman，tall，graceful，andqueenly，whopresentedherselfatBakerStreetlateintheeveningandimploredhisassistanceandadvice。Itwasvaintourgethathistimewasalreadyfullyoccupied，fortheyoungladyhadcomewiththedeterminationtotellherstory，anditwasevidentthatnothingshortofforcecouldgetheroutoftheroomuntilshehaddoneso。Witharesignedairandasomewhatwearysmile，Holmesbeggedthebeautifulintrudertotakeaseatandtoinformuswhatitwasthatwastroublingher。
\"Atleastitcannotbeyourhealth，\"saidhe，ashiskeeneyesdartedoverher；\"soardentabicyclistmustbefullofenergy。\"
Sheglanceddowninsurpriseatherownfeet，andIobservedtheslightrougheningofthesideofthesolecausedbythefrictionoftheedgeofthepedal。
\"Yes，Ibicycleagooddeal，Mr。Holmes，andthathassomethingtodowithmyvisittoyouto—day。\"
Myfriendtookthelady’sunglovedhandandexamineditwithascloseanattentionandaslittlesentimentasascientistwouldshowtoaspecimen。
\"Youwillexcuseme，Iamsure。Itismybusiness，\"saidhe，ashedroppedit。\"Inearlyfellintotheerrorofsupposingthatyouweretypewriting。Ofcourse，itisobviousthatitismusic。Youobservethespatulatefinger—end，Watson，whichiscommontobothprofessions？Thereisaspiritualityabouttheface，however\"——hegentlyturnedittowardsthelight——\"whichthetypewriterdoesnotgenerate。Thisladyisamusician。\"
\"Yes，Mr。Holmes，Iteachmusic。\"
\"Inthecountry，Ipresume，fromyourcomplexion。\"
\"Yes，sir；nearFarnham，onthebordersofSurrey。\"
\"Abeautifulneighbourhoodandfullofthemostinterestingassociations。Youremember，Watson，thatitwasneartherethatwetookArchieStamford，theforger。Now，MissViolet，whathashappenedtoyounearFarnham，onthebordersofSurrey？\"
Theyounglady，withgreatclearnessandcomposure，madethefollowingcuriousstatement：——
\"Myfatherisdead，Mr。Holmes。HewasJamesSmith，whoconductedtheorchestraattheoldImperialTheatre。MymotherandIwereleftwithoutarelationintheworldexceptoneuncle，RalphSmith，whowenttoAfricatwenty—fiveyearsago，andwehaveneverhadawordfromhimsince。Whenfatherdiedwewereleftverypoor，butonedayweweretoldthattherewasanadvertisementintheTIMESinquiringforourwhereabouts。Youcanimaginehowexcitedwewere，forwethoughtthatsomeonehadleftusafortune。Wewentatoncetothelawyerwhosenamewasgiveninthepaper。Therewemettwogentlemen，Mr。CarruthersandMr。Woodley，whowerehomeonavisitfromSouthAfrica。
Theysaidthatmyunclewasafriendoftheirs，thathediedsomemonthsbeforeingreatpovertyinJohannesburg，andthathehadaskedthemwithhislastbreathtohuntuphisrelationsandseethattheywereinnowant。ItseemedstrangetousthatUncleRalph，whotooknonoticeofuswhenhewasalive，shouldbesocarefultolookafteruswhenhewasdead；butMr。Carruthersexplainedthatthereasonwasthatmyunclehadjustheardofthedeathofhisbrother，andsofeltresponsibleforourfate。\"
\"Excuseme，\"saidHolmes；\"whenwasthisinterview？\"
\"LastDecember——fourmonthsago。\"
\"Prayproceed。\"
\"Mr。Woodleyseemedtometobeamostodiousperson。
Hewasforevermakingeyesatme——acoarse，puffy—faced，red—moustachedyoungman，withhishairplastereddownoneachsideofhisforehead。Ithoughtthathewasperfectlyhateful——
andIwassurethatCyrilwouldnotwishmetoknowsuchaperson。\"
\"Oh，Cyrilishisname！\"saidHolmes，smiling。
Theyoungladyblushedandlaughed。
\"Yes，Mr。Holmes；CyrilMorton，anelectricalengineer，andwehopetobemarriedattheendofthesummer。Dearme，howDIDIgettalkingabouthim？WhatIwishedtosaywasthatMr。Woodleywasperfectlyodious，butthatMr。Carruthers，whowasamucholderman，wasmoreagreeable。Hewasadark，sallow，clean—shaven，silentperson；buthehadpolitemannersandapleasantsmile。Heinquiredhowwewereleft，andonfindingthatwewereverypoorhesuggestedthatIshouldcomeandteachmusictohisonlydaughter，agedten。IsaidthatIdidnotliketoleavemymother，onwhichhesuggestedthatIshouldgohometohereveryweek—end，andheofferedmeahundredayear，whichwascertainlysplendidpay。Soitendedbymyaccepting，andIwentdowntoChilternGrange，aboutsixmilesfromFarnham。Mr。Carrutherswasawidower，buthehadengagedalady—housekeeper，averyrespectable，elderlyperson，calledMrs。Dixon，tolookafterhisestablishment。Thechildwasadear，andeverythingpromisedwell。Mr。Carrutherswasverykindandverymusical，andwehadmostpleasanteveningstogether。Everyweek—endIwenthometomymotherintown。
\"Thefirstflawinmyhappinesswasthearrivalofthered—moustachedMr。Woodley。Hecameforavisitofaweek，andoh，itseemedthreemonthstome！Hewasadreadfulperson，abullytoeveryoneelse，buttomesomethinginfinitelyworse。
Hemadeodiouslovetome，boastedofhiswealth，saidthatifImarriedhimIwouldhavethefinestdiamondsinLondon，andfinally，whenIwouldhavenothingtodowithhim，heseizedmeinhisarmsonedayafterdinner——hewashideouslystrong——
andhesworethathewouldnotletmegountilIhadkissedhim。
Mr。Carrutherscameinandtorehimofffromme，onwhichheturneduponhisownhost，knockinghimdownandcuttinghisfaceopen。Thatwastheendofhisvisit，asyoucanimagine。
Mr。Carruthersapologizedtomenextday，andassuredmethatIshouldneverbeexposedtosuchaninsultagain。IhavenotseenMr。Woodleysince。
\"Andnow，Mr。Holmes，Icomeatlasttothespecialthingwhichhascausedmetoaskyouradviceto—day。YoumustknowthateverySaturdayforenoonIrideonmybicycletoFarnhamStationinordertogetthe12。22totown。TheroadfromChilternGrangeisalonelyone，andatonespotitisparticularlyso，foritliesforoveramilebetweenCharlingtonHeathupononesideandthewoodswhichlieroundCharlingtonHallupontheother。Youcouldnotfindamorelonelytractofroadanywhere，anditisquiteraretomeetsomuchasacart，orapeasant，untilyoureachthehighroadnearCrooksburyHill。TwoweeksagoIwaspassingthisplacewhenIchancedtolookbackovermyshoulder，andabouttwohundredyardsbehindmeIsawaman，alsoonabicycle。Heseemedtobeamiddle—agedman，withashort，darkbeard。IlookedbackbeforeIreachedFarnham，butthemanwasgone，soIthoughtnomoreaboutit。ButyoucanimaginehowsurprisedIwas，Mr。Holmes，whenonmyreturnontheMondayIsawthesamemanonthesamestretchofroad。
Myastonishmentwasincreasedwhentheincidentoccurredagain，exactlyasbefore，onthefollowingSaturdayandMonday。
Healwayskepthisdistanceanddidnotmolestmeinanyway，butstillitcertainlywasveryodd。ImentionedittoMr。
Carruthers，whoseemedinterestedinwhatIsaid，andtoldmethathehadorderedahorseandtrap，sothatinfutureIshouldnotpassovertheselonelyroadswithoutsomecompanion。
\"Thehorseandtrapweretohavecomethisweek，butforsomereasontheywerenotdelivered，andagainIhadtocycletothestation。Thatwasthismorning。YoucanthinkthatIlookedoutwhenIcametoCharlingtonHeath，andthere，sureenough，wastheman，exactlyashehadbeenthetwoweeksbefore。
HealwayskeptsofarfrommethatIcouldnotclearlyseehisface，butitwascertainlysomeonewhomIdidnotknow。
Hewasdressedinadarksuitwithaclothcap。TheonlythingabouthisfacethatIcouldclearlyseewashisdarkbeard。
To—dayIwasnotalarmed，butIwasfilledwithcuriosity，andIdeterminedtofindoutwhohewasandwhathewanted。
Isloweddownmymachine，buthesloweddownhis。ThenIstoppedaltogether，buthestoppedalso。ThenIlaidatrapforhim。
Thereisasharpturningoftheroad，andIpedalledveryquicklyroundthis，andthenIstoppedandwaited。Iexpectedhimtoshootroundandpassmebeforehecouldstop。Butheneverappeared。ThenIwentbackandlookedroundthecorner。
Icouldseeamileofroad，buthewasnotonit。Tomakeitthemoreextraordinary，therewasnosideroadatthispointdownwhichhecouldhavegone。\"
Holmeschuckledandrubbedhishands。\"Thiscasecertainlypresentssomefeaturesofitsown，\"saidhe。\"Howmuchtimeelapsedbetweenyourturningthecornerandyourdiscoverythattheroadwasclear？\"
\"Twoorthreeminutes。\"
\"Thenhecouldnothaveretreateddowntheroad，andyousaythattherearenosideroads？\"
\"None。\"
\"Thenhecertainlytookafootpathononesideortheother。\"
\"ItcouldnothavebeenonthesideoftheheathorIshouldhaveseenhim。\"
\"SobytheprocessofexclusionwearriveatthefactthathemadehiswaytowardsCharlingtonHall，which，asIunderstand，issituatedinitsowngroundsononesideoftheroad。
Anythingelse？\"
\"Nothing，Mr。Holmes，savethatIwassoperplexedthatIfeltIshouldnotbehappyuntilIhadseenyouandhadyouradvice。\"
Holmessatinsilenceforsomelittletime。
\"Whereisthegentlemantowhomyouareengaged？\"heasked，atlast。
\"HeisintheMidlandElectricalCompany，atCoventry。\"
\"Hewouldnotpayyouasurprisevisit？\"
\"Oh，Mr。Holmes！AsifIshouldnotknowhim！\"
\"Haveyouhadanyotheradmirers？\"
\"SeveralbeforeIknewCyril。\"
\"Andsince？\"
\"Therewasthisdreadfulman，Woodley，ifyoucancallhimanadmirer。\"
\"Nooneelse？\"
Ourfairclientseemedalittleconfused。
\"Whowashe？\"askedHolmes。
\"Oh，itmaybeamerefancyofmine；butithasseemedtomesometimesthatmyemployer，Mr。Carruthers，takesagreatdealofinterestinme。Wearethrownrathertogether。Iplayhisaccompanimentsintheevening。Hehasneversaidanything。
Heisaperfectgentleman。Butagirlalwaysknows。\"
\"Ha！\"Holmeslookedgrave。\"Whatdoeshedoforaliving？\"
\"Heisarichman。\"
\"Nocarriagesorhorses？\"
\"Well，atleastheisfairlywell—to—do。ButhegoesintotheCitytwoorthreetimesaweek。HeisdeeplyinterestedinSouthAfricangoldshares。\"
\"Youwillletmeknowanyfreshdevelopment，MissSmith。Iamverybusyjustnow，butIwillfindtimetomakesomeinquiriesintoyourcase。Inthemeantimetakenostepwithoutlettingmeknow。Good—bye，andItrustthatweshallhavenothingbutgoodnewsfromyou。\"
\"ItispartofthesettledorderofNaturethatsuchagirlshouldhavefollowers，\"saidHolmes，ashepulledathismeditativepipe，\"butforchoicenotonbicyclesinlonelycountryroads。
Somesecretivelover，beyondalldoubt。Buttherearecuriousandsuggestivedetailsaboutthecase，Watson。\"
\"Thatheshouldappearonlyatthatpoint？\"
\"Exactly。OurfirsteffortmustbetofindwhoarethetenantsofCharlingtonHall。Then，again，howabouttheconnectionbetweenCarruthersandWoodley，sincetheyappeartobemenofsuchadifferenttype？HowcametheyBOTHtobesokeenuponlookingupRalphSmith’srelations？Onemorepoint。WhatsortofaMENAGEisitwhichpaysdoublethemarketpriceforagoverness，butdoesnotkeepahorsealthoughsixmilesfromthestation？Odd，Watson——veryodd！\"
\"Youwillgodown？\"
\"No，mydearfellow，YOUwillgodown。Thismaybesometriflingintrigue，andIcannotbreakmyotherimportantresearchforthesakeofit。OnMondayyouwillarriveearlyatFarnham；youwillconcealyourselfnearCharlingtonHeath；
youwillobservethesefactsforyourself，andactasyourownjudgmentadvises。Then，havinginquiredastotheoccupantsoftheHall，youwillcomebacktomeandreport。Andnow，Watson，notanotherwordofthematteruntilwehaveafewsolidstepping—stonesonwhichwemayhopetogetacrosstooursolution。\"
WehadascertainedfromtheladythatshewentdownupontheMondaybythetrainwhichleavesWaterlooat9。50，soIstartedearlyandcaughtthe9。13。AtFarnhamStationIhadnodifficultyinbeingdirectedtoCharlingtonHeath。Itwasimpossibletomistakethesceneoftheyounglady’sadventure，fortheroadrunsbetweentheopenheathononesideandanoldyewhedgeupontheother，surroundingaparkwhichisstuddedwithmagnificenttrees。Therewasamaingatewayoflichen—studdedstone，eachsidepillarsurmountedbymoulderingheraldicemblems；butbesidesthiscentralcarriagedriveIobservedseveralpointswherethereweregapsinthehedgeandpathsleadingthroughthem。Thehousewasinvisiblefromtheroad，butthesurroundingsallspokeofgloomanddecay。
Theheathwascoveredwithgoldenpatchesoffloweringgorse，gleamingmagnificentlyinthelightofthebrightspringsunshine。
BehindoneoftheseclumpsItookupmyposition，soastocommandboththegatewayoftheHallandalongstretchoftheroaduponeitherside。IthadbeendesertedwhenIleftit，butnowIsawacyclistridingdownitfromtheoppositedirectiontothatinwhichIhadcome。Hewascladinadarksuit，andIsawthathehadablackbeard。OnreachingtheendoftheCharlingtongroundshesprangfromhismachineandleditthroughagapinthehedge，disappearingfrommyview。
Aquarterofanhourpassedandthenasecondcyclistappeared。
Thistimeitwastheyoungladycomingfromthestation。
IsawherlookaboutherasshecametotheCharlingtonhedge。
Aninstantlaterthemanemergedfromhishiding—place，spranguponhiscycle，andfollowedher。Inallthebroadlandscapethoseweretheonlymovingfigures，thegracefulgirlsittingverystraightuponhermachine，andthemanbehindherbendinglowoverhishandle—bar，withacuriouslyfurtivesuggestionineverymovement。Shelookedbackathimandslowedherpace。
Heslowedalso。Shestopped。Heatoncestoppedtoo，keepingtwohundredyardsbehindher。Hernextmovementwasasunexpectedasitwasspirited。Shesuddenlywhiskedherwheelsroundanddashedstraightathim！Hewasasquickasshe，however，anddartedoffindesperateflight。Presentlyshecamebackuptheroadagain，herheadhaughtilyintheair，notdeigningtotakeanyfurthernoticeofhersilentattendant。Hehadturnedalso，andstillkepthisdistanceuntilthecurveoftheroadhidthemfrommysight。
Iremainedinmyhiding—place，anditwaswellthatIdidso，forpresentlythemanreappearedcyclingslowlyback。
HeturnedinattheHallgatesanddismountedfromhismachine。
ForsomefewminutesIcouldseehimstandingamongthetrees。
Hishandswereraisedandheseemedtobesettlinghisnecktie。
ThenhemountedhiscycleandrodeawayfrommedownthedrivetowardstheHall。Iranacrosstheheathandpeeredthroughthetrees。FarawayIcouldcatchglimpsesoftheoldgreybuildingwithitsbristlingTudorchimneys，butthedriveranthroughadenseshrubbery，andIsawnomoreofmyman。
However，itseemedtomethatIhaddoneafairlygoodmorning’swork，andIwalkedbackinhighspiritstoFarnham。Thelocalhouse—agentcouldtellmenothingaboutCharlingtonHall，andreferredmetoawell—knownfirminPallMall。ThereIhaltedonmywayhome，andmetwithcourtesyfromtherepresentative。
No，IcouldnothaveCharlingtonHallforthesummer。
Iwasjusttoolate。Ithadbeenletaboutamonthago。
Mr。Williamsonwasthenameofthetenant。Hewasarespectableelderlygentleman。Thepoliteagentwasafraidhecouldsaynomore，astheaffairsofhisclientswerenotmatterswhichhecoulddiscuss。
Mr。SherlockHolmeslistenedwithattentiontothelongreportwhichIwasabletopresenttohimthatevening，butitdidnotelicitthatwordofcurtpraisewhichIhadhopedforandshouldhavevalued。Onthecontrary，hisausterefacewasevenmoreseverethanusualashecommenteduponthethingsthatIhaddoneandthethingsthatIhadnot。
\"Yourhiding—place，mydearWatson，wasveryfaulty。Youshouldhavebeenbehindthehedge；thenyouwouldhavehadacloseviewofthisinterestingperson。Asitisyouweresomehundredsofyardsaway，andcantellmeevenlessthanMissSmith。
Shethinksshedoesnotknowtheman；Iamconvincedshedoes。
Why，otherwise，shouldhebesodesperatelyanxiousthatsheshouldnotgetsonearhimastoseehisfeatures？Youdescribehimasbendingoverthehandle—bar。Concealmentagain，yousee。
Youreallyhavedoneremarkablybadly。Hereturnstothehouseandyouwanttofindoutwhoheis。YoucometoaLondonhouse—agent！\"
\"WhatshouldIhavedone？\"Icried，withsomeheat。
\"Gonetothenearestpublic—house。Thatisthecentreofcountrygossip。Theywouldhavetoldyoueveryname，fromthemastertothescullery—maid。Williamson！Itconveysnothingtomymind。Ifheisanelderlymanheisnotthisactivecyclistwhosprintsawayfromthatathleticyounglady’spursuit。Whathavewegainedbyyourexpedition？Theknowledgethatthegirl’sstoryistrue。Ineverdoubtedit。ThatthereisaconnectionbetweenthecyclistandtheHall。Ineverdoubtedthateither。ThattheHallistenantedbyWilliamson。
Who’sthebetterforthat？Well，well，mydearsir，don’tlooksodepressed。WecandolittlemoreuntilnextSaturday，andinthemeantimeImaymakeoneortwoinquiriesmyself。\"
NextmorningwehadanotefromMissSmith，recountingshortlyandaccuratelytheveryincidentswhichIhadseen，butthepithoftheletterlayinthepostscript：——
\"Iamsurethatyouwillrespectmyconfidence，Mr。Holmes，whenItellyouthatmyplaceherehasbecomedifficultowingtothefactthatmyemployerhasproposedmarriagetome。Iamconvincedthathisfeelingsaremostdeepandmosthonourable。
Atthesametimemypromiseis，ofcourse，given。Hetookmyrefusalveryseriously，butalsoverygently。Youcanunderstand，however，thatthesituationisalittlestrained。\"
\"Ouryoungfriendseemstobegettingintodeepwaters，\"
saidHolmes，thoughtfully，ashefinishedtheletter。
\"ThecasecertainlypresentsmorefeaturesofinterestandmorepossibilityofdevelopmentthanIhadoriginallythought。
Ishouldbenonetheworseforaquiet，peacefuldayinthecountry，andIaminclinedtorundownthisafternoonandtestoneortwotheorieswhichIhaveformed。\"
Holmes’squietdayinthecountryhadasingulartermination，forhearrivedatBakerStreetlateintheeveningwithacutlipandadiscolouredlumpuponhisforehead，besidesageneralairofdissipationwhichwouldhavemadehisownpersonthefittingobjectofaScotlandYardinvestigation。Hewasimmenselytickledbyhisownadventures，andlaughedheartilyasherecountedthem。
\"Igetsolittleactiveexercisethatitisalwaysatreat，\"
saidhe。\"YouareawarethatIhavesomeproficiencyinthegoodoldBritishsportofboxing。Occasionallyitisofservice。To—day，forexample，Ishouldhavecometoveryignominiousgriefwithoutit。\"
Ibeggedhimtotellmewhathadoccurred。
\"IfoundthatcountrypubwhichIhadalreadyrecommendedtoyournotice，andthereImademydiscreetinquiries。Iwasinthebar，andagarrulouslandlordwasgivingmeallthatI
wanted。Williamsonisawhite—beardedman，andhelivesalonewithasmallstaffofservantsattheHall。Thereissomerumourthatheisorhasbeenaclergyman；butoneortwoincidentsofhisshortresidenceattheHallstruckmeaspeculiarlyunecclesiastical。Ihavealreadymadesomeinquiriesataclericalagency，andtheytellmethatthereWASamanofthatnameinorderswhosecareerhasbeenasingularlydarkone。
Thelandlordfurtherinformedmethatthereareusuallyweek—endvisitors——`awarmlot，sir’——attheHall，andespeciallyonegentlemanwitharedmoustache，Mr。Woodleybyname，whowasalwaysthere。Wehadgotasfarasthiswhenwhoshouldwalkinbutthegentlemanhimself，whohadbeendrinkinghisbeerinthetap—roomandhadheardthewholeconversation。WhowasI？
WhatdidIwant？WhatdidImeanbyaskingquestions？Hehadafineflowoflanguage，andhisadjectiveswereveryvigorous。
Heendedastringofabusebyaviciousback—handerwhichIfailedtoentirelyavoid。Thenextfewminutesweredelicious。Itwasastraightleftagainstasloggingruffian。Iemergedasyouseeme。Mr。Woodleywenthomeinacart。Soendedmycountrytrip，anditmustbeconfessedthat，howeverenjoyable，mydayontheSurreyborderhasnotbeenmuchmoreprofitablethanyourown。\"
TheThursdaybroughtusanotherletterfromourclient。
\"Youwillnotbesurprised，Mr。Holmes，\"saidshe，\"tohearthatIamleavingMr。Carruthers’semployment。Eventhehighpaycannotreconcilemetothediscomfortsofmysituation。
OnSaturdayIcomeuptotownandIdonotintendtoreturn。
Mr。Carruthershasgotatrap，andsothedangersofthelonelyroad，ifthereeverwereanydangers，arenowover。
\"Astothespecialcauseofmyleaving，itisnotmerelythestrainedsituationwithMr。Carruthers，butitisthereappearanceofthatodiousman，Mr。Woodley。Hewasalwayshideous，buthelooksmoreawfulthanevernow，forheappearstohavehadanaccidentandheismuchdisfigured。Isawhimoutofthewindow，butIamgladtosayIdidnotmeethim。
HehadalongtalkwithMr。Carruthers，whoseemedmuchexcitedafterwards。Woodleymustbestayingintheneighbourhood，forhedidnotsleephere，andyetIcaughtaglimpseofhimagainthismorningslinkingaboutintheshrubbery。Iwouldsoonerhaveasavagewildanimallooseabouttheplace。IloatheandfearhimmorethanIcansay。HowCANMr。Carruthersenduresuchacreatureforamoment？However，allmytroubleswillbeoveronSaturday。\"
\"SoItrust，Watson；soItrust，\"saidHolmes，gravely。
