Thesefewinquiriesproved，however，tobeamorelengthyproceedingthanHolmeshadimagined，forhedidnotreturntotheinnuntilnearlynineo’clock。Hewaspaleanddejected，stainedwithdust，andexhaustedwithhungerandfatigue。
Acoldsupperwasreadyuponthetable，andwhenhisneedsweresatisfiedandhispipealighthewasreadytotakethathalfcomicandwhollyphilosophicviewwhichwasnaturaltohimwhenhisaffairsweregoingawry。Thesoundofcarriagewheelscausedhimtoriseandglanceoutofthewindow。Abroughamandpairofgreysundertheglareofagas—lampstoodbeforethedoctor’sdoor。
\"It’sbeenoutthreehours，\"saidHolmes；\"startedathalf—pastsix，andhereitisbackagain。Thatgivesaradiusoftenortwelvemiles，andhedoesitonce，orsometimestwice，aday。\"
\"Nounusualthingforadoctorinpractice。\"
\"ButArmstrongisnotreallyadoctorinpractice。Heisalecturerandaconsultant，buthedoesnotcareforgeneralpractice，whichdistractshimfromhisliterarywork。
Why，then，doeshemaketheselongjourneys，whichmustbeexceedinglyirksometohim，andwhoisitthathevisits？\"
\"Hiscoachman————\"
\"MydearWatson，canyoudoubtthatitwastohimthatI
firstapplied？Idonotknowwhetheritcamefromhisowninnatedepravityorfromthepromptingsofhismaster，buthewasrudeenoughtosetadogatme。Neitherdognormanlikedthelookofmystick，however，andthematterfellthrough。Relationswerestrainedafterthat，andfurtherinquiriesoutofthequestion。
AllthatIhavelearnedIgotfromafriendlynativeintheyardofourowninn。Itwashewhotoldmeofthedoctor’shabitsandofhisdailyjourney。Atthatinstant，togivepointtohiswords，thecarriagecameroundtothedoor。\"
\"Couldyounotfollowit？\"
\"Excellent，Watson！Youarescintillatingthisevening。
Theideadidcrossmymind。Thereis，asyoumayhaveobserved，abicycleshopnexttoourinn。IntothisIrushed，engagedabicycle，andwasabletogetstartedbeforethecarriagewasquiteoutofsight。Irapidlyovertookit，andthen，keepingatadiscreetdistanceofahundredyardsorso，Ifolloweditslightsuntilwewereclearofthetown。Wehadgotwelloutonthecountryroadwhenasomewhatmortifyingincidentoccurred。
Thecarriagestopped，thedoctoralighted，walkedswiftlybacktowhereIhadalsohalted，andtoldmeinanexcellentsardonicfashionthathefearedtheroadwasnarrow，andthathehopedhiscarriagedidnotimpedethepassageofmybicycle。Nothingcouldhavebeenmoreadmirablethanhiswayofputtingit。Iatoncerodepastthecarriage，and，keepingtothemainroad，Iwentonforafewmiles，andthenhaltedinaconvenientplacetoseeifthecarriagepassed。Therewasnosignofit，however，andsoitbecameevidentthatithadturneddownoneofseveralsideroadswhichIhadobserved。Irodeback，butagainsawnothingofthecarriage，andnow，asyouperceive，ithasreturnedafterme。
Ofcourse，IhadattheoutsetnoparticularreasontoconnectthesejourneyswiththedisappearanceofGodfreyStaunton，andwasonlyinclinedtoinvestigatethemonthegeneralgroundsthateverythingwhichconcernsDr。Armstrongisatpresentofinteresttous；but，nowthatIfindhekeepssokeenalook—outuponanyonewhomayfollowhimontheseexcursions，theaffairappearsmoreimportant，andIshallnotbesatisfieduntilIhavemadethematterclear。\"
\"Wecanfollowhimto—morrow。\"
\"Canwe？Itisnotsoeasyasyouseemtothink。YouarenotfamiliarwithCambridgeshirescenery，areyou？Itdoesnotlenditselftoconcealment。AllthiscountrythatIpassedoverto—nightisasflatandcleanasthepalmofyourhand，andthemanwearefollowingisnofool，asheveryclearlyshowedto—night。IhavewiredtoOvertontoletusknowanyfreshLondondevelopmentsatthisaddress，andinthemeantimewecanonlyconcentrateourattentionuponDr。Armstrong，whosenametheobligingyoungladyattheofficeallowedmetoreaduponthecounterfoilofStaunton’surgentmessage。Heknowswheretheyoungmanis——tothatI’llswear——andifheknows，thenitmustbeourownfaultifwecannotmanagetoknowalso。
Atpresentitmustbeadmittedthattheoddtrickisinhispossession，and，asyouareaware，Watson，itisnotmyhabittoleavethegameinthatcondition。\"
Andyetthenextdaybroughtusnonearertothesolutionofthemystery。Anotewashandedinafterbreakfast，whichHolmespassedacrosstomewithasmile。
\"Sir，\"itran，\"Icanassureyouthatyouarewastingyourtimeindoggingmymovements。Ihave，asyoudiscoveredlastnight，awindowatthebackofmybrougham，andifyoudesireatwenty—mileridewhichwillleadyoutothespotfromwhichyoustarted，youhaveonlytofollowme。Meanwhile，IcaninformyouthatnospyinguponmecaninanywayhelpMr。GodfreyStaunton，andIamconvincedthatthebestserviceyoucandotothatgentlemanistoreturnatoncetoLondonandtoreporttoyouremployerthatyouareunabletotracehim。YourtimeinCambridgewillcertainlybewasted。
\"Yoursfaithfully，\"LESLIEARMSTRONG。\"
\"Anoutspoken，honestantagonististhedoctor，\"saidHolmes。
\"Well，well，heexcitesmycuriosity，andImustreallyknowmorebeforeIleavehim。\"
\"Hiscarriageisathisdoornow，\"saidI。\"Thereheissteppingintoit。Isawhimglanceupatourwindowashedidso。
SupposeItrymyluckuponthebicycle？\"
\"No，no，mydearWatson！WithallrespectforyournaturalacumenIdonotthinkthatyouarequiteamatchfortheworthydoctor。IthinkthatpossiblyIcanattainourendbysomeindependentexplorationsofmyown。IamafraidthatImustleaveyoutoyourowndevices，astheappearanceofTWOinquiringstrangersuponasleepycountrysidemightexcitemoregossipthanIcarefor。Nodoubtyouwillfindsomesightstoamuseyouinthisvenerablecity，andIhopetobringbackamorefavourablereporttoyoubeforeevening。\"
Oncemore，however，myfriendwasdestinedtobedisappointed。
Hecamebackatnightwearyandunsuccessful。
\"Ihavehadablankday，Watson。Havinggotthedoctor’sgeneraldirection，IspentthedayinvisitingallthevillagesuponthatsideofCambridge，andcomparingnoteswithpublicansandotherlocalnewsagencies。Ihavecoveredsomeground：
Chesterton，Histon，Waterbeach，andOakingtonhaveeachbeenexploredandhaveeachproveddisappointing。ThedailyappearanceofabroughamandpaircouldhardlyhavebeenoverlookedinsuchSleepyHollows。Thedoctorhasscoredoncemore。Isthereatelegramforme？\"
\"Yes；Iopenedit。Hereitis：`AskforPompeyfromJeremyDixon，TrinityCollege。’Idon’tunderstandit。\"
\"Oh，itisclearenough。ItisfromourfriendOverton，andisinanswertoaquestionfromme。I’lljustsendroundanotetoMr。JeremyDixon，andthenIhavenodoubtthatourluckwillturn。Bytheway，isthereanynewsofthematch？\"
\"Yes，thelocaleveningpaperhasanexcellentaccountinitslastedition。Oxfordwonbyagoalandtwotries。Thelastsentencesofthedescriptionsay：`ThedefeatoftheLightBluesmaybeentirelyattributedtotheunfortunateabsenceofthecrackInternational，GodfreyStaunton，whosewantwasfeltateveryinstantofthegame。Thelackofcombinationinthethree—quarterlineandtheirweaknessbothinattackanddefencemorethanneutralizedtheeffortsofaheavyandhard—workingpack。’\"
\"ThenourfriendOverton’sforebodingshavebeenjustified，\"
saidHolmes。\"PersonallyIaminagreementwithDr。Armstrong，andfootballdoesnotcomewithinmyhorizon。Earlytobedto—night，Watson，forIforeseethatto—morrowmaybeaneventfulday。\"
IwashorrifiedbymyfirstglimpseofHolmesnextmorning，forhesatbythefireholdinghistinyhypodermicsyringe。
Iassociatedthatinstrumentwiththesingleweaknessofhisnature，andIfearedtheworstwhenIsawitglitteringinhishand。Helaughedatmyexpressionofdismay，andlaidituponthetable。
\"No，no，mydearfellow，thereisnocauseforalarm。Itisnotuponthisoccasiontheinstrumentofevil，butitwillratherprovetobethekeywhichwillunlockourmystery。OnthissyringeIbaseallmyhopes。Ihavejustreturnedfromasmallscoutingexpeditionandeverythingisfavourable。Eatagoodbreakfast，Watson，forIproposetogetuponDr。Armstrong’strailto—day，andonceonitIwillnotstopforrestorfooduntilIrunhimtohisburrow。\"
\"Inthatcase，\"saidI，\"wehadbestcarryourbreakfastwithus，forheismakinganearlystart。Hiscarriageisatthedoor。\"
\"Nevermind。Lethimgo。HewillbecleverifhecandrivewhereIcannotfollowhim。Whenyouhavefinishedcomedownstairswithme，andIwillintroduceyoutoadetectivewhoisaveryeminentspecialistintheworkthatliesbeforeus。\"
WhenwedescendedIfollowedHolmesintothestableyard，whereheopenedthedoorofaloose—boxandledoutasquat，lop—eared，white—and—tandog，somethingbetweenabeagleandafoxhound。
\"LetmeintroduceyoutoPompey，\"saidhe。\"Pompeyistheprideofthelocaldraghounds，noverygreatflier，ashisbuildwillshow，butastaunchhoundonascent。Well，Pompey，youmaynotbefast，butIexpectyouwillbetoofastforacoupleofmiddle—agedLondongentlemen，soIwilltakethelibertyoffasteningthisleatherleashtoyourcollar。Now，boy，comealong，andshowwhatyoucando。\"Heledhimacrosstothedoctor’sdoor。Thedogsniffedroundforaninstant，andthenwithashrillwhineofexcitementstartedoffdownthestreet，tuggingathisleashinhiseffortstogofaster。Inhalfanhour，wewereclearofthetownandhasteningdownacountryroad。
\"Whathaveyoudone，Holmes？\"Iasked。
\"Athreadbareandvenerabledevice，butusefuluponoccasion。
Iwalkedintothedoctor’syardthismorningandshotmysyringefullofaniseedoverthehindwheel。AdraghoundwillfollowaniseedfromheretoJohno’Groat’s，andourfriendArmstrongwouldhavetodrivethroughtheCambeforehewouldshakePompeyoffhistrail。Oh，thecunningrascal！
Thisishowhegavemethesliptheothernight。\"
Thedoghadsuddenlyturnedoutofthemainroadintoagrass—grownlane。Halfamilefartherthisopenedintoanotherbroadroad，andthetrailturnedhardtotherightinthedirectionofthetown，whichwehadjustquitted。Theroadtookasweeptothesouthofthetownandcontinuedintheoppositedirectiontothatinwhichwestarted。
\"ThisDETOURhasbeenentirelyforourbenefit，then？\"saidHolmes。\"Nowonderthatmyinquiriesamongthosevillagesledtonothing。Thedoctorhascertainlyplayedthegameforallitisworth，andonewouldliketoknowthereasonforsuchelaboratedeception。ThisshouldbethevillageofTrumpingtontotherightofus。And，byJove！hereisthebroughamcomingroundthecorner。Quick，Watson，quick，orwearedone！\"
Hesprangthroughagateintoafield，draggingthereluctantPompeyafterhim。Wehadhardlygotundertheshelterofthehedgewhenthecarriagerattledpast。IcaughtaglimpseofDr。Armstrongwithin，hisshouldersbowed，hisheadsunkonhishands，theveryimageofdistress。Icouldtellbymycompanion’sgraverfacethathealsohadseen。
\"Ifearthereissomedarkendingtoourquest，\"saidhe。
\"Itcannotbelongbeforeweknowit。Come，Pompey！
Ah，itisthecottageinthefield！\"
Therecouldbenodoubtthatwehadreachedtheendofourjourney。Pompeyranaboutandwhinedeagerlyoutsidethegatewherethemarksofthebrougham’swheelswerestilltobeseen。
Afootpathledacrosstothelonelycottage。Holmestiedthedogtothehedge，andwehastenedonwards。Myfriendknockedatthelittlerusticdoor，andknockedagainwithoutresponse。Andyetthecottagewasnotdeserted，foralowsoundcametoourears——
akindofdroneofmiseryanddespair，whichwasindescribablymelancholy。Holmespausedirresolute，andthenheglancedbackattheroadwhichwehadjusttraversed。Abroughamwascomingdownit，andtherecouldbenomistakingthosegreyhorses。
\"ByJove，thedoctoriscomingback！\"criedHolmes。\"Thatsettlesit。Weareboundtoseewhatitmeansbeforehecomes。\"
Heopenedthedoorandwesteppedintothehall。Thedroningsoundswelledlouderuponourearsuntilitbecameonelong，deepwailofdistress。Itcamefromupstairs。HolmesdartedupandIfollowedhim。Hepushedopenahalf—closeddoorandwebothstoodappalledatthesightbeforeus。
Awoman，youngandbeautiful，waslyingdeaduponthebed。
Hercalm，paleface，withdim，wide—openedblueeyes，lookedupwardfromamidagreattangleofgoldenhair。Atthefootofthebed，halfsitting，halfkneeling，hisfaceburiedintheclothes，wasayoungman，whoseframewasrackedbyhissobs。
SoabsorbedwashebyhisbittergriefthatheneverlookedupuntilHolmes’shandwasonhisshoulder。
\"AreyouMr。GodfreyStaunton？\"
\"Yes，yes；Iam——butyouaretoolate。Sheisdead。\"
Themanwassodazedthathecouldnotbemadetounderstandthatwewereanythingbutdoctorswhohadbeensenttohisassistance。Holmeswasendeavouringtoutterafewwordsofconsolation，andtoexplainthealarmwhichhadbeencausedtohisfriendsbyhissuddendisappearance，whentherewasastepuponthestairs，andtherewastheheavy，stern，questioningfaceofDr。Armstrongatthedoor。
\"So，gentlemen，\"saidhe，\"youhaveattainedyourend，andhavecertainlychosenaparticularlydelicatemomentforyourintrusion。Iwouldnotbrawlinthepresenceofdeath，butIcanassureyouthatifIwereayoungermanyourmonstrousconductwouldnotpasswithimpunity。\"
\"Excuseme，Dr。Armstrong，Ithinkwearealittleatcross—purposes，\"saidmyfriend，withdignity。\"Ifyoucouldstepdownstairswithuswemayeachbeabletogivesomelighttotheotheruponthismiserableaffair。\"
Aminutelaterthegrimdoctorandourselveswereinthesitting—roombelow。
\"Well，sir？\"saidhe。
\"Iwishyoutounderstand，inthefirstplace，thatIamnotemployedbyLordMount—James，andthatmysympathiesinthismatterareentirelyagainstthatnobleman。Whenamanislostitismydutytoascertainhisfate，buthavingdonesothematterendssofarasIamconcerned；andsolongasthereisnothingcriminal，Iammuchmoreanxioustohushupprivatescandalsthantogivethempublicity。If，asIimagine，thereisnobreachofthelawinthismatter，youcanabsolutelydependuponmydiscretionandmyco—operationinkeepingthefactsoutofthepapers。\"
Dr。ArmstrongtookaquickstepforwardandwrungHolmesbythehand。
\"Youareagoodfellow，\"saidhe。\"Ihadmisjudgedyou。
IthankHeaventhatmycompunctionatleavingpoorStauntonallaloneinthisplightcausedmetoturnmycarriageback，andsotomakeyouracquaintance。Knowingasmuchasyoudo，thesituationisveryeasilyexplained。AyearagoGodfreyStauntonlodgedinLondonforatime，andbecamepassionatelyattachedtohislandlady’sdaughter，whomhemarried。Shewasasgoodasshewasbeautiful，andasintelligentasshewasgood。Nomanneedbeashamedofsuchawife。ButGodfreywastheheirtothiscrabbedoldnobleman，anditwasquitecertainthatthenewsofhismarriagewouldhavebeentheendofhisinheritance。Iknewtheladwell，andIlovedhimforhismanyexcellentqualities。
IdidallIcouldtohelphimtokeepthingsstraight。Wedidourverybesttokeepthethingfromeveryone，forwhenoncesuchawhispergetsaboutitisnotlongbeforeeveryonehasheardit。
Thankstothislonelycottageandhisowndiscretion，Godfreyhasuptonowsucceeded。TheirsecretwasknowntonoonesavetomeandtooneexcellentservantwhohasatpresentgoneforassistancetoTrumpington。Butatlasttherecameaterribleblowintheshapeofdangerousillnesstohiswife。Itwasconsumptionofthemostvirulentkind。Thepoorboywashalfcrazedwithgrief，andyethehadtogotoLondontoplaythismatch，forhecouldnotgetoutofitwithoutexplanationswhichwouldexposehissecret。Itriedtocheerhimupbyawire，andhesentmeoneinreplyimploringmetodoallIcould。Thiswasthetelegramwhichyouappearinsomeinexplicablewaytohaveseen。Ididnottellhimhowurgentthedangerwas，forIknewthathecoulddonogoodhere，butIsentthetruthtothegirl’sfather，andheveryinjudiciouslycommunicatedittoGodfrey。
Theresultwasthathecamestraightawayinastateborderingonfrenzy，andhasremainedinthesamestate，kneelingattheendofherbed，untilthismorningdeathputanendtohersufferings。
Thatisall，Mr。Holmes，andIamsurethatIcanrelyuponyourdiscretionandthatofyourfriend。\"
Holmesgraspedthedoctor’shand。
\"Come，Watson，\"saidhe，andwepassedfromthathouseofgriefintothepalesunlightofthewinterday。
XII。———TheAdventureoftheAbbeyGrange。
Itwasonabitterlycoldandfrostymorningduringthewinterof’97thatIwasawakenedbyatuggingatmyshoulder。ItwasHolmes。Thecandleinhishandshoneuponhiseager，stoopingfaceandtoldmeataglancethatsomethingwasamiss。
\"Come，Watson，come！\"hecried。\"Thegameisafoot。Notaword！
Intoyourclothesandcome！\"
TenminuteslaterwewerebothinacabandrattlingthroughthesilentstreetsonourwaytoCharingCrossStation。Thefirstfaintwinter’sdawnwasbeginningtoappear，andwecoulddimlyseetheoccasionalfigureofanearlyworkmanashepassedus，blurredandindistinctintheopalescentLondonreek。Holmesnestledinsilenceintohisheavycoat，andIwasgladtodothesame，fortheairwasmostbitterandneitherofushadbrokenourfast。Itwasnotuntilwehadconsumedsomehotteaatthestation，andtakenourplacesintheKentishtrain，thatweweresufficientlythawed，hetospeakandItolisten。Holmesdrewanotefromhispocketandreaditaloud：——
\"AbbeyGrange，Marsham，Kent，\"3。30a。m。
\"MYDEARMR。HOLMES，———Ishouldbeverygladofyourimmediateassistanceinwhatpromisestobeamostremarkablecase。
Itissomethingquiteinyourline。ExceptforreleasingtheladyIwillseethateverythingiskeptexactlyasIhavefoundit，butIbegyounottoloseaninstant，asitisdifficulttoleaveSirEustacethere。
\"Yoursfaithfully，STANLEYHOPKINS。\"
\"Hopkinshascalledmeinseventimes，andoneachoccasionhissummonshasbeenentirelyjustified，\"saidHolmes。
\"Ifancythateveryoneofhiscaseshasfounditswayintoyourcollection，andImustadmit，Watson，thatyouhavesomepowerofselectionwhichatonesformuchwhichIdeploreinyournarratives。Yourfatalhabitoflookingateverythingfromthepointofviewofastoryinsteadofasascientificexercisehasruinedwhatmighthavebeenaninstructiveandevenclassicalseriesofdemonstrations。Yousluroverworkoftheutmostfinesseanddelicacyinordertodwelluponsensationaldetailswhichmayexcite，butcannotpossiblyinstruct，thereader。\"
\"Whydoyounotwritethemyourself？\"Isaid，withsomebitterness。
\"Iwill，mydearWatson，Iwill。AtpresentIam，asyouknow，fairlybusy，butIproposetodevotemydecliningyearstothecompositionofatext—bookwhichshallfocusthewholeartofdetectionintoonevolume。Ourpresentresearchappearstobeacaseofmurder。\"
\"YouthinkthisSirEustaceisdead，then？\"
\"Ishouldsayso。Hopkins’swritingshowsconsiderableagitation，andheisnotanemotionalman。Yes，Igathertherehasbeenviolence，andthatthebodyisleftforourinspection。
Ameresuicidewouldnothavecausedhimtosendforme。
Astothereleaseofthelady，itwouldappearthatshehasbeenlockedinherroomduringthetragedy。Wearemovinginhighlife，Watson；cracklingpaper，`E。B。’monogram，coat—of—arms，picturesqueaddress。IthinkthatfriendHopkinswillliveuptohisreputationandthatweshallhaveaninterestingmorning。Thecrimewascommittedbeforetwelvelastnight。\"
\"Howcanyoupossiblytell？\"
\"Byaninspectionofthetrainsandbyreckoningthetime。
Thelocalpolicehadtobecalledin，theyhadtocommunicatewithScotlandYard，Hopkinshadtogoout，andheinturnhadtosendforme。Allthatmakesafairnight’swork。
Well，hereweareatChislehurstStation，andweshallsoonsetourdoubtsatrest。\"
Adriveofacoupleofmilesthroughnarrowcountrylanesbroughtustoaparkgate，whichwasopenedforusbyanoldlodge—keeper，whosehaggardfaceborethereflectionofsomegreatdisaster。Theavenueranthroughanoblepark，betweenlinesofancientelms，andendedinalow，widespreadhouse，pillaredinfrontafterthefashionofPalladio。Thecentralpartwasevidentlyofagreatageandshroudedinivy，butthelargewindowsshowedthatmodernchangeshadbeencarriedout，andonewingofthehouseappearedtobeentirelynew。
Theyouthfulfigureandalert，eagerfaceofInspectorStanleyHopkinsconfrontedusintheopendoorway。
\"I’mverygladyouhavecome，Mr。Holmes。Andyoutoo，Dr。Watson！But，indeed，ifIhadmytimeoveragainI
shouldnothavetroubledyou，forsincetheladyhascometoherselfshehasgivensoclearanaccountoftheaffairthatthereisnotmuchleftforustodo。YourememberthatLewishamgangofburglars？\"
\"What，thethreeRandalls？\"
\"Exactly；thefatherandtwosons。It’stheirwork。
Ihavenotadoubtofit。TheydidajobatSydenhamafortnightago，andwereseenanddescribed。Rathercooltodoanothersosoonandsonear，butitisthey，beyondalldoubt。It’sahangingmatterthistime。\"
\"SirEustaceisdead，then？\"
\"Yes；hisheadwasknockedinwithhisownpoker。\"
\"SirEustaceBrackenstall，thedrivertellsme。\"
\"Exactly——oneoftherichestmeninKent。
LadyBrackenstallisinthemorning—room。Poorlady，shehashadamostdreadfulexperience。SheseemedhalfdeadwhenIsawherfirst。Ithinkyouhadbestseeherandhearheraccountofthefacts。Thenwewillexaminethedining—roomtogether。\"
LadyBrackenstallwasnoordinaryperson。SeldomhaveIseensogracefulafigure，sowomanlyapresence，andsobeautifulaface。Shewasablonde，golden—haired，blue—eyed，andwould，nodoubt，havehadtheperfectcomplexionwhichgoeswithsuchcolouringhadnotherrecentexperienceleftherdrawnandhaggard。Hersufferingswerephysicalaswellasmental，foroveroneeyeroseahideous，plum—colouredswelling，whichhermaid，atall，austerewoman，wasbathingassiduouslywithvinegarandwater。Theladylaybackexhausteduponacouch，butherquick，observantgazeasweenteredtheroom，andthealertexpressionofherbeautifulfeatures，showedthatneitherherwitsnorhercouragehadbeenshakenbyherterribleexperience。Shewasenvelopedinaloosedressing—gownofblueandsilver，butablacksequin—covereddinner—dresswashunguponthecouchbesideher。
\"Ihavetoldyouallthathappened，Mr。Hopkins，\"shesaid，wearily；\"couldyounotrepeatitforme？Well，ifyouthinkitnecessary，Iwilltellthesegentlemenwhatoccurred。
Havetheybeeninthedining—roomyet？\"
\"Ithoughttheyhadbetterhearyourladyship’sstoryfirst。\"
\"Ishallbegladwhenyoucanarrangematters。Itishorribletometothinkofhimstilllyingthere。\"Sheshudderedandburiedherfaceinherhands。Asshedidsotheloosegownfellbackfromherforearms。Holmesutteredanexclamation。
\"Youhaveotherinjuries，madam！Whatisthis？\"
Twovividredspotsstoodoutononeofthewhite，roundlimbs。
Shehastilycoveredit。
\"Itisnothing。Ithasnoconnectionwiththehideousbusinessoflastnight。IfyouandyourfriendwillsitdownIwilltellyouallIcan。
\"IamthewifeofSirEustaceBrackenstall。Ihavebeenmarriedaboutayear。Isupposethatitisnousemyattemptingtoconcealthatourmarriagehasnotbeenahappyone。
Ifearthatallourneighbourswouldtellyouthat，evenifI
weretoattempttodenyit。Perhapsthefaultmaybepartlymine。
Iwasbroughtupinthefreer，lessconventionalatmosphereofSouthAustralia，andthisEnglishlife，withitsproprietiesanditsprimness，isnotcongenialtome。Butthemainreasonliesintheonefactwhichisnotorioustoeveryone，andthatisthatSirEustacewasaconfirmeddrunkard。Tobewithsuchamanforanhourisunpleasant。Canyouimaginewhatitmeansforasensitiveandhigh—spiritedwomantobetiedtohimfordayandnight？Itisasacrilege，acrime，avillainytoholdthatsuchamarriageisbinding。Isaythatthesemonstrouslawsofyourswillbringacurseupontheland——Heavenwillnotletsuchwickednessendure。\"Foraninstantshesatup，hercheeksflushed，andhereyesblazingfromundertheterriblemarkuponherbrow。
Thenthestrong，soothinghandoftheausteremaiddrewherheaddownontothecushion，andthewildangerdiedawayintopassionatesobbing。Atlastshecontinued：——
