<s> QUOTE YES SIR I WAITED TO SEE IF THERE WAS AN ANSWER QUOTE </s><s> WELL WAS THERE </s><s> YES SIR HE WROTE AN ANSWER </s><s> DID YOU TAKE IT </s><s> NO HE TOOK IT HIMSELF </s><s> BUT HE WROTE IT IN YOUR PRESENCE </s><s> QUOTE YES SIR </s><s> I WAS STANDING BY THE DOOR AND HE WITH HIS BACK TURNED TO THAT TABLE </s><s> WHEN HE HAD WRITTEN IT HE SAID ALL RIGHT PORTER </s><s> I WILL TAKE THIS MYSELF </s><s> WHAT DID HE WRITE IT WITH </s><s> A PEN SIR </s><s> WAS THE TELEGRAPHIC FORM ONE OF THESE ON THE TABLE </s><s> YES SIR IT WAS THE TOP ONE </s><s> HOLMES ROSE </s><s> TAKING THE FORMS HE CARRIED THEM OVER TO THE WINDOW AND CAREFULLY EXAMINED THAT WHICH WAS UPPERMOST </s><s> QUOTE IT IS A PITY HE DID NOT WRITE IN PENCIL QUOTE SAID HE THROWING THEM DOWN AGAIN WITH A SHRUG OF DISAPPOINTMENT </s><s> AS YOU HAVE NO DOUBT FREQUENTLY OBSERVED WATSON THE IMPRESSION USUALLY GOES THROUGH A FACT WHICH HAS DISSOLVED MANY A HAPPY MARRIAGE </s><s> HOWEVER I CAN FIND NO TRACE HERE </s><s> I REJOICE HOWEVER TO PERCEIVE THAT HE WROTE WITH A BROAD POINTED QUILL PEN AND I CAN HARDLY DOUBT THAT WE WILL FIND SOME IMPRESSION UPON THIS BLOTTING PAD </s><s> AH YES SURELY THIS IS THE VERY THING </s><s> CYRIL OVERTON WAS MUCH EXCITED </s><s> HOLD IT TO THE GLASS HE CRIED </s><s> THAT IS UNNECESSARY SAID HOLMES </s><s> THE PAPER IS THIN AND THE REVERSE WILL GIVE THE MESSAGE </s><s> HERE IT IS QUOTE </s><s> HE TURNED IT OVER AND WE READ </s><s> SO THAT IS THE TAIL END OF THE TELEGRAM WHICH GODFREY STAUNTON DISPATCHED WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF HIS DISAPPEARANCE </s><s> THERE ARE AT LEAST SIX WORDS OF THE MESSAGE WHICH HAVE ESCAPED US BUT WHAT REMAINS STAND BY US FOR GOD'S SAKE PROVES THAT THIS YOUNG MAN SAW A FORMIDABLE DANGER WHICH APPROACHED HIM AND FROM WHICH SOMEONE ELSE COULD PROTECT HIM </s><s> US MARK YOU </s><s> ANOTHER PERSON WAS INVOLVED </s><s> WHO SHOULD IT BE BUT THE PALE FACED BEARDED MAN WHO SEEMED HIMSELF IN SO NERVOUS A STATE </s><s> WHAT THEN IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN GODFREY STAUNTON AND THE BEARDED MAN </s><s> AND WHAT IS THE THIRD SOURCE FROM WHICH EACH OF THEM SOUGHT FOR HELP AGAINST PRESSING DANGER </s><s> OUR INQUIRY HAS ALREADY NARROWED DOWN TO THAT </s><s> WE HAVE ONLY TO FIND TO WHOM THAT TELEGRAM IS ADDRESSED I SUGGESTED </s><s> EXACTLY MY DEAR WATSON </s><s> YOUR REFLECTION THOUGH PROFOUND HAD ALREADY CROSSED MY MIND </s><s> BUT I DARESAY IT MAY HAVE COME TO YOUR NOTICE THAT IF YOU WALK INTO A POSTOFFICE AND DEMAND TO SEE THE COUNTERFOIL OF ANOTHER MAN'S MESSAGE THERE MAY BE SOME DISINCLINATION ON THE PART OF THE OFFICIALS TO OBLIGE YOU </s><s> THERE IS SO MUCH RED TAPE IN THESE MATTERS </s><s> HOWEVER I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WITH A LITTLE DELICACY AND FINESSE THE END MAY BE ATTAINED </s><s> MEANWHILE I SHOULD LIKE IN YOUR PRESENCE MR. OVERTON TO GO THROUGH THESE PAPERS WHICH HAVE BEEN LEFT UPON THE TABLE </s><s> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF LETTERS BILLS AND NOTEBOOKS WHICH HOLMES TURNED OVER AND EXAMINED WITH QUICK NERVOUS FINGERS AND DARTING PENETRATING EYES </s><s> QUOTE NOTHING HERE QUOTE HE SAID AT LAST </s><s> BY THE WAY I SUPPOSE YOUR FRIEND WAS A HEALTHY YOUNG FELLOW NOTHING AMISS WITH HIM </s><s> SOUND AS A BELL </s><s> HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN HIM ILL </s><s> NOT A DAY </s><s> HE HAS BEEN LAID UP WITH A HACK AND ONCE HE SLIPPED HIS KNEE CAP BUT THAT WAS NOTHING </s><s> QUOTE PERHAPS HE WAS NOT SO STRONG AS YOU SUPPOSE </s><s> I SHOULD THINK HE MAY HAVE HAD SOME SECRET TROUBLE </s><s> WITH YOUR ASSENT I WILL PUT ONE OR TWO OF THESE PAPERS IN MY POCKET IN CASE THEY SHOULD BEAR UPON OUR FUTURE INQUIRY </s><s> ONE MOMENT ONE MOMENT CRIED A QUERULOUS VOICE AND WE LOOKED UP TO FIND A QUEER LITTLE OLD MAN JERKING AND TWITCHING IN THE DOORWAY </s><s> HE WAS DRESSED IN RUSTY BLACK WITH A VERY BROADBRIMMED TOP HAT AND A LOOSE WHITE NECKTIE THE WHOLE EFFECT BEING THAT OF A VERY RUSTIC PARSON OR OF AN UNDERTAKER'S MUTE </s><s> YET IN SPITE OF HIS SHABBY AND EVEN ABSURD APPEARANCE HIS VOICE HAD A SHARP CRACKLE AND HIS MANNER A QUICK INTENSITY WHICH COMMANDED ATTENTION </s><s> WHO ARE YOU SIR AND BY WHAT RIGHT DO YOU TOUCH THIS GENTLEMAN'S PAPERS HE ASKED </s><s> I AM A PRIVATE DETECTIVE AND I AM ENDEAVOURING TO EXPLAIN HIS DISAPPEARANCE </s><s> OH YOU ARE ARE YOU </s><s> AND WHO INSTRUCTED YOU EH QUOTE </s><s> THIS GENTLEMAN MR. STAUNTON'S FRIEND WAS REFERRED TO ME BY SCOTLAND YARD </s><s> WHO ARE YOU SIR </s><s> I AM CYRIL OVERTON </s><s> THEN IT IS YOU WHO SENT ME A TELEGRAM </s><s> MY NAME IS LORD MOUNT JAMES </s><s> I CAME ROUND AS QUICKLY AS THE BAYSWATER BUS WOULD BRING ME </s><s> SO YOU HAVE INSTRUCTED A DETECTIVE </s><s> QUOTE YES SIR QUOTE </s><s> AND ARE YOU PREPARED TO MEET THE COST </s><s> I HAVE NO DOUBT SIR THAT MY FRIEND GODFREY WHEN WE FIND HIM WILL BE PREPARED TO DO THAT </s><s> BUT IF HE IS NEVER FOUND EH </s><s> ANSWER ME THAT </s><s> IN THAT CASE. NO DOUBT HIS FAMILY </s><s> QUOTE NOTHING OF THE SORT SIR QUOTE SCREAMED THE LITTLE MAN </s><s> DON'T LOOK TO ME FOR A PENNY NOT A PENNY </s><s> YOU UNDERSTAND THAT MR. DETECTIVE </s><s> I AM ALL THE FAMILY THAT THIS YOUNG MAN HAS GOT AND I TELL YOU THAT I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE </s><s> IF HE HAS ANY EXPECTATIONS IT IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE NEVER WASTED MONEY AND I DO NOT PROPOSE TO BEGIN TO DO SO NOW </s><s> AS TO THOSE PAPERS WITH WHICH YOU ARE MAKING SO FREE I MAY TELL YOU THAT IN CASE THERE SHOULD BE ANYTHING OF ANY VALUE AMONG THEM YOU WILL BE HELD STRICTLY TO ACCOUNT FOR WHAT YOU DO WITH THEM </s><s> VERY GOOD SIR SAID SHERLOCK HOLMES </s><s> MAY I ASK IN THE MEANWHILE WHETHER YOU HAVE YOURSELF ANY THEORY TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS YOUNG MAN'S DISAPPEARANCE </s><s> NO SIR I HAVE NOT </s><s> HE IS BIG ENOUGH AND OLD ENOUGH TO LOOK AFTER HIMSELF AND IF HE IS SO FOOLISH AS TO LOSE HIMSELF I ENTIRELY REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HUNTING FOR HIM QUOTE </s><s> I QUITE UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION SAID HOLMES WITH A MISCHIEVOUS TWINKLE IN HIS EYES </s><s> PERHAPS YOU DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND MINE </s><s> GODFREY STAUNTON APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A POOR MAN </s><s> IF HE HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN FOR ANYTHING WHICH HE HIMSELF POSSESSES </s><s> THE FAME OF YOUR WEALTH HAS GONE ABROAD LORD MOUNT JAMES AND IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT A GANG OF THIEVES HAVE SECURED YOUR NEPHEW IN ORDER TO GAIN FROM HIM SOME INFORMATION AS TO YOUR HOUSE YOUR HABITS AND YOUR TREASURE </s><s> THE FACE OF OUR UNPLEASANT LITTLE VISITOR TURNED AS WHITE AS HIS NECKCLOTH </s><s> HEAVENS SIR WHAT AN IDEA </s><s> I NEVER THOUGHT OF SUCH VILLAINY </s><s> WHAT INHUMAN ROGUES THERE ARE IN THE WORLD </s><s> BUT GODFREY IS A FINE LAD A STAUNCH LAD </s><s> NOTHING WOULD INDUCE HIM TO GIVE HIS OLD UNCLE AWAY </s><s> I'LL HAVE THE PLATE MOVED OVER TO THE BANK THIS EVENING </s><s> IN THE MEANTIME SPARE NO PAINS MR. DETECTIVE </s><s> I BEG YOU TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED TO BRING HIM SAFELY BACK </s><s> AS TO MONEY WELL SO FAR AS A FIVER OR EVEN A TENNER GOES YOU CAN ALWAYS LOOK TO ME </s><s> EVEN IN HIS CHASTENED FRAME OF MIND THE NOBLE MISER COULD GIVE US NO INFORMATION WHICH COULD HELP US FOR HE KNEW LITTLE OF THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HIS NEPHEW </s><s> OUR ONLY CLUE LAY IN THE TRUNCATED TELEGRAM AND WITH A COPY OF THIS IN HIS HAND HOLMES SET FORTH TO FIND A SECOND LINK FOR HIS CHAIN </s><s> WE HAD SHAKEN OFF LORD MOUNT JAMES AND OVERTON HAD GONE TO CONSULT WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS TEAM OVER THE MISFORTUNE WHICH HAD BEFALLEN THEM </s><s> THERE WAS A TELEGRAPH OFFICE AT A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE HOTEL </s><s> WE HALTED OUTSIDE IT </s><s> QUOTE IT'S WORTH TRYING WATSON QUOTE SAID HOLMES </s><s> OF COURSE WITH A WARRANT WE COULD DEMAND TO SEE THE COUNTERFOILS BUT WE HAVE NOT REACHED THAT STAGE YET </s><s> I DON'T SUPPOSE THEY REMEMBER FACES IN SO BUSY A PLACE </s><s> LET US VENTURE IT </s><s> I AM SORRY TO TROUBLE YOU SAID HE IN HIS BLANDEST MANNER TO THE YOUNG WOMAN BEHIND THE GRATING THERE IS SOME SMALL MISTAKE ABOUT A TELEGRAM I SENT YESTERDAY </s><s> I HAVE HAD NO ANSWER AND I VERY MUCH FEAR THAT I MUST HAVE OMITTED TO PUT MY NAME AT THE END </s><s> COULD YOU TELL ME IF THIS WAS SO </s><s> THE YOUNG WOMAN TURNED OVER A SHEAF OF COUNTERFOILS </s><s> WHAT O'CLOCK WAS IT SHE ASKED </s><s> QUOTE A LITTLE AFTER SIX QUOTE </s><s> WHOM WAS IT TO </s><s> HOLMES PUT HIS FINGER TO HIS LIPS AND GLANCED AT ME </s><s> THE LAST WORDS IN IT WERE FOR GOD'S SAKE HE WHISPERED CONFIDENTIALLY I AM VERY ANXIOUS AT GETTING NO ANSWER </s><s> THE YOUNG WOMAN SEPARATED ONE OF THE FORMS </s><s> THIS IS IT </s><s> THERE IS NO NAME SAID SHE SMOOTHING IT OUT UPON THE COUNTER </s><s> THEN THAT OF COURSE ACCOUNTS FOR MY GETTING NO ANSWER SAID HOLMES </s><s> QUOTE DEAR ME HOW VERY STUPID OF ME TO BE SURE </s><s> GOOD MORNING MISS AND MANY THANKS FOR HAVING RELIEVED MY MIND </s><s> HE CHUCKLED AND RUBBED HIS HANDS WHEN WE FOUND OURSELVES IN THE STREET ONCE MORE </s><s> WELL </s><s> I ASKED </s><s> WE PROGRESS MY DEAR WATSON WE PROGRESS </s><s> I HAD SEVEN DIFFERENT SCHEMES FOR GETTING A GLIMPSE OF THAT TELEGRAM BUT I COULD HARDLY HOPE TO SUCCEED THE VERY FIRST TIME </s><s> AND WHAT HAVE YOU GAINED </s><s> QUOTE A STARTING POINT FOR OUR INVESTIGATION QUOTE </s><s> HE HAILED A CAB </s><s> KING'S CROSS STATION SAID HE </s><s> WE HAVE A JOURNEY THEN </s><s> YES I THINK WE MUST RUN DOWN TO CAMBRIDGE TOGETHER </s><s> ALL THE INDICATIONS SEEM TO ME TO POINT IN THAT DIRECTION </s><s> TELL ME I ASKED AS WE RATTLED UP GRAY'S INN ROAD HAVE YOU ANY SUSPICION YET AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE DISAPPEARANCE </s><s> I DON'T THINK THAT AMONG ALL OUR CASES I HAVE KNOWN ONE WHERE THE MOTIVES ARE MORE OBSCURE </s><s> SURELY YOU DON'T REALLY IMAGINE THAT HE MAY BE KIDNAPPED IN ORDER TO GIVE INFORMATION AGAINST HIS WEALTHY UNCLE QUOTE </s>