<s> NO NO MY DEAR WATSON </s><s> WITH ALL RESPECT FOR YOUR NATURAL ACUMEN I DO NOT THINK THAT YOU ARE QUITE A MATCH FOR THE WORTHY DOCTOR </s><s> I THINK THAT POSSIBLY I CAN ATTAIN OUR END BY SOME INDEPENDENT EXPLORATIONS OF MY OWN </s><s> I AM AFRAID THAT I MUST LEAVE YOU TO YOUR OWN DEVICES AS THE APPEARANCE OF TWO INQUIRING STRANGERS UPON A SLEEPY COUNTRYSIDE MIGHT EXCITE MORE GOSSIP THAN I CARE FOR </s><s> NO DOUBT YOU WILL FIND SOME SIGHTS TO AMUSE YOU IN THIS VENERABLE CITY AND I HOPE TO BRING BACK A MORE FAVOURABLE REPORT TO YOU BEFORE EVENING </s><s> ONCE MORE HOWEVER MY FRIEND WAS DESTINED TO BE DISAPPOINTED </s><s> HE CAME BACK AT NIGHT WEARY AND UNSUCCESSFUL </s><s> QUOTE I HAVE HAD A BLANK DAY WATSON </s><s> HAVING GOT THE DOCTOR'S GENERAL DIRECTION I SPENT THE DAY IN VISITING ALL THE VILLAGES UPON THAT SIDE OF CAMBRIDGE AND COMPARING NOTES WITH PUBLICANS AND OTHER LOCAL NEWS AGENCIES </s><s> I HAVE COVERED SOME GROUND </s><s> CHESTERTON HISTON WATERBEACH AND OAKINGTON HAVE EACH BEEN EXPLORED AND HAVE EACH PROVED DISAPPOINTING </s><s> THE DAILY APPEARANCE OF A BROUGHAM AND PAIR COULD HARDLY HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED IN SUCH SLEEPY HOLLOWS </s><s> THE DOCTOR HAS SCORED ONCE MORE </s><s> IS THERE A TELEGRAM FOR ME </s><s> YES I OPENED IT </s><s> HERE IT IS ASK FOR POMPEY FROM JEREMY DIXON TRINITY COLLEGE </s><s> I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT </s><s> OH IT IS CLEAR ENOUGH </s><s> IT IS FROM OUR FRIEND OVERTON AND IS IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION FROM ME </s><s> I'LL JUST SEND ROUND A NOTE TO MR. JEREMY DIXON AND THEN I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT OUR LUCK WILL TURN </s><s> BY THE WAY IS THERE ANY NEWS OF THE MATCH QUOTE </s><s> YES THE LOCAL EVENING PAPER HAS AN EXCELLENT ACCOUNT IN ITS LAST EDITION </s><s> OXFORD WON BY A GOAL AND TWO TRIES </s><s> THE LAST SENTENCES OF THE DESCRIPTION SAY THE DEFEAT OF THE LIGHT BLUES MAY BE ENTIRELY ATTRIBUTED TO THE UNFORTUNATE ABSENCE OF THE CRACK INTERNATIONAL GOD FREY STAUNTON WHOSE WANT WAS FELT AT EVERY INSTANT OF THE GAME </s><s> THE LACK OF COMBINATION IN THE THREE QUARTER LINE AND THEIR WEAKNESS BOTH IN ATTACK AND DEFENCE MORE THAN NEUTRAL IZED THE EFFORTS OF A HEAVY AND HARD WORKING PACK </s><s> THEN OUR FRIEND OVERTON'S FOREBODINGS HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED SAID HOLMES </s><s> PERSONALLY I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH DOCTOR ARMSTRONG AND FOOTBALL DOES NOT COME WITHIN MY HORIZON </s><s> EARLY TO BED TO NIGHT WATSON FOR I FORESEE THAT TO MORROW MAY BE AN EVENTFUL DAY QUOTE </s><s> I WAS HORRIFIED BY MY FIRST GLIMPSE OF HOLMES NEXT MORNING FOR HE SAT BY THE FIRE HOLDING HIS TINY HYPODERMIC SYRINGE </s><s> I ASSOCIATED THAT INSTRUMENT WITH THE SINGLE WEAKNESS OF HIS NATURE AND I FEARED THE WORST WHEN I SAW IT GLITTERING IN HIS HAND </s><s> HE LAUGHED AT MY EXPRESSION OF DISMAY AND LAID IT UPON THE TABLE </s><s> NO NO MY DEAR FELLOW THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM </s><s> IT IS NOT UPON THIS OCCASION THE INSTRUMENT OF EVIL BUT IT WILL RATHER PROVE TO BE THE KEY WHICH WILL UNLOCK OUR MYSTERY </s><s> ON THIS SYRINGE I BASE ALL MY HOPES </s><s> I HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM A SMALL SCOUTING EXPEDITION AND EVERYTHING IS FAVOURABLE </s><s> EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST WATSON FOR I PROPOSE TO GET UPON DOCTOR ARMSTRONG'S TRAIL TO DAY AND ONCE ON IT I WILL NOT STOP FOR REST OR FOOD UNTIL I RUN HIM TO HIS BURROW </s><s> IN THAT CASE SAID I WE HAD BEST CARRY OUR BREAKFAST WITH US FOR HE IS MAKING AN EARLY START </s><s> HIS CARRIAGE IS AT THE DOOR </s><s> NEVER MIND </s><s> LET HIM GO </s><s> HE WILL BE CLEVER IF HE CAN DRIVE WHERE I CANNOT FOLLOW HIM </s><s> WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED COME DOWNSTAIRS WITH ME AND I WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO A DETECTIVE WHO IS A VERY EMINENT SPECIALIST IN THE WORK THAT LIES BEFORE US QUOTE </s><s> WHEN WE DESCENDED I FOLLOWED HOLMES INTO THE STABLE YARD WHERE HE OPENED THE DOOR OF A LOOSE BOX AND LED OUT A SQUAT LOP EARED WHITE AND TAN DOG SOMETHING BETWEEN A BEAGLE AND A FOXHOUND </s><s> LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO POMPEY SAID HE </s><s> POMPEY IS THE PRIDE OF THE LOCAL DRAGHOUNDS NO VERY GREAT FLIER AS HIS BUILD WILL SHOW BUT A STAUNCH HOUND ON A SCENT </s><s> WELL POMPEY YOU MAY NOT BE FAST BUT I EXPECT YOU WILL BE TOO FAST FOR A COUPLE OF MIDDLE AGED LONDON GENTLEMEN SO I WILL TAKE THE LIBERTY OF FASTENING THIS LEATHER LEASH TO YOUR COLLAR </s><s> NOW BOY COME ALONG AND SHOW WHAT YOU CAN DO </s><s> HE LED HIM ACROSS TO THE DOCTOR'S DOOR </s><s> THE DOG SNIFFED ROUND FOR AN INSTANT AND THEN WITH A SHRILL WHINE OF EXCITEMENT STARTED OFF DOWN THE STREET TUGGING AT HIS LEASH IN HIS EFFORTS TO GO FASTER </s><s> IN HALF AN HOUR WE WERE CLEAR OF THE TOWN AND HASTENING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD </s><s> WHAT HAVE YOU DONE HOLMES </s><s> I ASKED </s><s> A THREADBARE AND VENERABLE DEVICE BUT USEFUL UPON OCCASION </s><s> I WALKED INTO THE DOCTOR'S YARD THIS MORNING AND SHOT MY SYRINGE FULL OF ANISEED OVER THE HIND WHEEL </s><s> A DRAGHOUND WILL FOLLOW ANISEED FROM HERE TO JOHN O' GROAT'S AND OUR FRIEND ARMSTRONG WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH THE CAM BEFORE HE WOULD SHAKE POMPEY OFF HIS TRAIL </s><s> OH THE CUNNING RASCAL </s><s> THIS IS HOW HE GAVE ME THE SLIP THE OTHER NIGHT QUOTE </s><s> THE DOG HAD SUDDENLY TURNED OUT OF THE MAIN ROAD INTO A GRASS GROWN LANE </s><s> HALF A MILE FARTHER THIS OPENED INTO ANOTHER BROAD ROAD AND THE TRAIL TURNED HARD TO THE RIGHT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TOWN WHICH WE HAD JUST QUITTED </s><s> THE ROAD TOOK A SWEEP TO THE SOUTH OF THE TOWN AND CONTINUED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO THAT IN WHICH WE STARTED </s><s> THIS DETOUR HAS BEEN ENTIRELY FOR OUR BENEFIT THEN SAID HOLMES </s><s> NO WONDER THAT MY INQUIRIES AMONG THOSE VILLAGERS LED TO NOTHING </s><s> THE DOCTOR HAS CERTAINLY PLAYED THE GAME FOR ALL IT IS WORTH AND ONE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE REASON FOR SUCH ELABORATE DECEPTION </s><s> THIS SHOULD BE THE VILLAGE OF TRUMPINGTON TO THE RIGHT OF US </s><s> AND BY JOVE HERE IS THE BROUGHAM COMING ROUND THE CORNER </s><s> QUICK WATSON QUICK OR WE ARE DONE </s><s> HE SPRANG THROUGH A GATE INTO A FIELD DRAGGING THE RELUCTANT POMPEY AFTER HIM </s><s> WE HAD HARDLY GOT UNDER THE SHELTER OF THE HEDGE WHEN THE CARRIAGE RATTLED PAST </s><s> I CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF DOCTOR ARMSTRONG WITHIN HIS SHOULDERS BOWED HIS HEAD SUNK ON HIS HANDS THE VERY IMAGE OF DISTRESS </s><s> I COULD TELL BY MY COMPANION'S GRAVER FACE THAT HE ALSO HAD SEEN </s><s> I FEAR THERE IS SOME DARK ENDING TO OUR QUEST SAID HE </s><s> IT CANNOT BE LONG BEFORE WE KNOW IT </s><s> COME POMPEY </s><s> AH IT IS THE COTTAGE IN THE FIELD QUOTE </s><s> THERE COULD BE NO DOUBT THAT WE HAD REACHED THE END OF OUR JOURNEY </s><s> POMPEY RAN ABOUT AND WHINED EAGERLY OUTSIDE THE GATE WHERE THE MARKS OF THE BROUGHAM'S WHEELS WERE STILL TO BE SEEN </s><s> A FOOTPATH LED ACROSS TO THE LONELY COTTAGE </s><s> HOLMES TIED THE DOG TO THE HEDGE AND WE HASTENED ONWARD </s><s> MY FRIEND KNOCKED AT THE LITTLE RUSTIC DOOR AND KNOCKED AGAIN WITHOUT RESPONSE </s><s> AND YET THE COTTAGE WAS NOT DESERTED FOR A LOW SOUND CAME TO OUR EARS A KIND OF DRONE OF MISERY AND DESPAIR WHICH WAS INDESCRIBABLY MELANCHOLY </s><s> HOLMES PAUSED IRRESOLUTE AND THEN HE GLANCED BACK AT THE ROAD WHICH HE HAD JUST TRAVERSED </s><s> A BROUGHAM WAS COMING DOWN IT AND THERE COULD BE NO MISTAKING THOSE GRAY HORSES </s><s> BY JOVE THE DOCTOR IS COMING BACK CRIED HOLMES </s><s> THAT SETTLES IT </s><s> WE ARE BOUND TO SEE WHAT IT MEANS BEFORE HE COMES </s><s> HE OPENED THE DOOR AND WE STEPPED INTO THE HALL </s><s> THE DRONING SOUND SWELLED LOUDER UPON OUR EARS UNTIL IT BECAME ONE LONG DEEP WAIL OF DISTRESS </s><s> IT CAME FROM UPSTAIRS </s><s> HOLMES DARTED UP AND I FOLLOWED HIM </s><s> HE PUSHED OPEN A HALF CLOSED DOOR AND WE BOTH STOOD APPALLED AT THE SIGHT BEFORE US </s><s> A WOMAN YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL WAS LYING DEAD UPON THE BED </s><s> HER CALM PALE FACE WITH DIM WIDE OPENED BLUE EYES LOOKED UPWARD FROM AMID A GREAT TANGLE OF GOLDEN HAIR </s><s> 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 </s><s> SO ABSORBED WAS HE BY HIS BITTER GRIEF THAT HE NEVER LOOKED UP UNTIL HOLMES'S HAND WAS ON HIS SHOULDER </s><s> ARE YOU MR. GODFREY STAUNTON </s><s> YES YES I AM BUT YOU ARE TOO LATE </s><s> SHE IS DEAD QUOTE </s><s> 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 </s><s> 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 DOCTOR ARMSTRONG AT THE DOOR </s><s> SO GENTLEMEN SAID HE YOU HAVE ATTAINED YOUR END AND HAVE CERTAINLY CHOSEN A PARTICULARLY DELICATE MOMENT FOR YOUR INTRUSION </s><s> 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 </s><s> EXCUSE ME DOCTOR ARMSTRONG I THINK WE ARE A LITTLE AT CROSSPURPOSES SAID MY FRIEND WITH DIGNITY </s><s> IF YOU COULD STEP DOWNSTAIRS WITH US WE MAY EACH BE ABLE TO GIVE SOME LIGHT TO THE OTHER UPON THIS MISERABLE AFFAIR </s><s> A MINUTE LATER THE GRIM DOCTOR AND OURSELVES WERE IN THE SITTING ROOM BELOW </s><s> WELL SIR SAID HE </s><s> QUOTE 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 </s><s> 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 </s><s> 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 </s><s> DOCTOR ARMSTRONG TOOK A QUICK STEP FORWARD AND WRUNG HOLMES BY THE HAND </s><s> YOU ARE A GOOD FELLOW SAID HE </s><s> I HAD MISJUDGED YOU </s><s> 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 </s><s> KNOWING AS MUCH AS YOU DO THE SITUATION IS VERY EASILY EXPLAINED </s><s> A YEAR AGO GODFREY STAUNTON LODGED IN LONDON FOR A TIME AND BECAME PASSIONATELY ATTACHED TO HIS LANDLADY'S DAUGHTER WHOM HE MARRIED </s><s> SHE WAS AS GOOD AS SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND AS INTELLIGENT AS SHE WAS GOOD </s><s> NO MAN NEED BE ASHAMED OF SUCH A WIFE </s><s> 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 </s><s> I KNEW THE LAD WELL AND I LOVED HIM FOR HIS MANY EXCELLENT QUALITIES </s><s> I DID ALL I COULD TO HELP HIM TO KEEP THINGS STRAIGHT </s><s> 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 </s><s> THANKS TO THIS LONELY COTTAGE AND HIS OWN DISCRETION GODFREY HAS UP TO NOW SUCCEEDED </s><s> THEIR SECRET WAS KNOWN TO NO ONE SAVE TO ME AND TO ONE EXCELLENT SERVANT WHO HAS AT PRESENT GONE FOR ASSISTANCE TO TRUMPINGTON </s><s> BUT AT LAST THERE CAME A TERRIBLE BLOW IN THE SHAPE OF DANGEROUS ILLNESS TO HIS WIFE </s><s> IT WAS CONSUMPTION OF THE MOST VIRULENT KIND </s><s> 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 </s><s> I TRIED TO CHEER HIM UP BY WIRE AND HE SENT ME ONE IN REPLY IMPLORING ME TO DO ALL I COULD </s><s> THIS WAS THE TELEGRAM WHICH YOU APPEAR IN SOME INEXPLICABLE WAY TO HAVE SEEN </s><s> 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 </s><s> 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 </s><s> THAT IS ALL MR. HOLMES AND I AM SURE THAT I CAN RELY UPON YOUR DISCRETION AND THAT OF YOUR FRIEND </s><s> HOLMES GRASPED THE DOCTOR'S HAND </s><s> COME WATSON SAID HE AND WE PASSED FROM THAT HOUSE OF GRIEF INTO THE PALE SUNLIGHT OF THE WINTER DAY </s>