Sherlock Holmes complete collection by sir arthur conan doyle

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes THE BLANCHED SOLDIER

THE ideas of my friend Watson, though limited, are exceedinglypertinacious. For a long time he has worried me to write an experience ofmy own. Perhaps I have rather invited this persecution, since I have oftenhad occasion to point out to him how superficial are his own accounts andto accuse him of pandering to popular taste instead of confining himselfrigidly to facts and figures. "Try it yourself, Holmes!" he has retorted, andI am compelled to admit that, having taken my pen in my hand, I do beginto realize that the matter must be presented in such a way as may interestthe reader. The following case can hardly fail to do so, as it is among thestrangest happenings in my collection, though it chanced that Watson hadno note of it in his collection. Speaking of my old friend and biographer, Iwould take this opportunity to remark that if I burden myself with acompanion in my various little inquiries it is not done out of sentiment orcaprice, but it is that Watson has some remarkable characteristics of hisown to which in his modesty he has given small attention amid hisexaggerated estimates of my own performances. A confederate whoforesees your conclusions and course of action is always dangerous, butone to whom each development comes as a perpetual surprise, and towhom the future is always a closed book, is indeed an ideal helpmate.I find from my notebook that it was in January, 1903, just after theconclusion of the Boer War, that I had my visit from Mr. James M. Dodd,a big, fresh, sunburned, upstanding Briton. The good Watson had at thattime deserted me for a wife, the only selfish action which I can recall inour association. I was alone.It is my habit to sit with my back to the window and to place myvisitors in the opposite chair, where the light falls full upon them. Mr.James M. Dodd seemed somewhat at a loss how to begin the interview. Idid not attempt to help him, for his silence gave me more time forobservation. I have found it wise to impress clients with a sense of power,and so I gave him some of my conclusions."From South Africa, sir, I perceive.""Yes, sir," he answered, with some surprise."Imperial Yeomanry, I fancy.""Exactly.""Middlesex Corps, no doubt.""That is so. Mr. Holmes, you are a wizard."I smiled at his bewildered expression."When a gentleman of virile appearance enters my room with such tanupon his face as an English sun could never give, and with hishandkerchief in his sleeve instead of in his pocket, it is not difficult toplace him. You wear a short beard, which shows that you were not a regular. You have the cut of a riding-man. As to Middlesex, your card hasalready shown me that you are a stockbroker from Throgmorton Street.What other regiment would you join?""You see everything.""I see no more than you, but I have trained myself to notice what I see.However, Mr. Dodd, it was not to discuss the science of observation thatyou called upon me this morning. What has been happening at TuxburyOld Park?"[1001] "Mr. Holmes- -!""My dear sir, there is no mystery. Your letter came with that heading,and as you fixed this appointment in very pressing terms it was clear thatsomething sudden and important had occurred.""Yes, indeed. But the letter was written in the afternoon, and a gooddeal has happened since then. If Colonel Emsworth had not kicked meout- -""Kicked you out!""Well, that was what it amounted to. He is a hard nail, is ColonelEmsworth. The greatest martinet in the Army in his day, and it was a dayof rough language, too. I couldn't have stuck the colonel if it had not beenfor Godfrey's sake."I lit my pipe and leaned back in my chair."Perhaps you will explain what you are talking about."My client grinned mischievously."I had got into the way of supposing that you knew everything withoutbeing told," said he. "But I will give you the facts, and I hope to God thatyou will be able to tell me what they mean. I've been awake all nightpuzzling my brain, and the more I think the more incredible does itbecome."When I joined up in January, 1901-just two years ago-young GodfreyEmsworth had joined the same squadron. He was Colonel Emsworth'sonly son- Emsworth, the Crimean V. C.-and he had the fighting blood inhim, so it is no wonder he volunteered. There was not a finer lad in the regiment. We formed a friendship-the sort of friendship which can onlybe made when one lives the same life and shares the same joys andsorrows. He was my mate-and that means a good deal in the Army. Wetook the rough and the smooth together for a year of hard fighting. Thenhe was hit with a bullet from an elephant gun in the action near DiamondHill outside Pretoria. I got one letter from the hospital at Cape Town andone from Southampton. Since then not a word-not one word, Mr.Holmes, for six months and more, and he my closest pal."Well, when the war was over, and we all got back, I wrote to his fatherand asked where Godfrey was. No answer. I waited a bit and then I wroteagain. This time I had a reply, short and gruff. Godfrey had gone on avoyage round the world, and it was not likely that he would be back for ayear. That was all."I wasn't satisfied, Mr. Holmes. The whole thing seemed to me sodamned unnatural. He was a good lad, and he would not drop a pal likethat. It was not like him. Then, again, I happened to know that he was heirto a lot of money, and also that his father and he did not always hit it offtoo well. The old man was sometimes a bully, and young Godfrey had toomuch spirit to stand it. No, I wasn't satisfied, and I determined that Iwould get to the root of the matter. It happened, however, that my ownaffairs needed a lot of straightening out, after two years' absence, and soit is only this week that I have been able to take up Godfrey's case again.But since I have taken it up I mean to drop everything in order to see itthrough."Mr. James M. Dodd appeared to be the sort of person whom it wouldbe better to have as a friend than as an enemy. His blue eyes were sternand his square jaw had set hard as he spoke."Well, what have you done?" I asked."My first move was to get down to his home, Tuxbury Old Park, nearBedford, and to see for myself how the ground lay. I wrote to the mother,therefore-I had had quite enough of the curmudgeon of a father-and Imade a clean frontal [1002] attack: Godfrey was my chum, I had a greatdeal of interest which I might tell her of our common experiences, Ishould be in the neighbourhood, would there be any objection, et cetera?In reply I had quite an amiable answer from her and an offer to put me upfor the night. That was what took me down on Monday."Tuxbury Old Hall is inaccessible-five miles from anywhere. Therewas no trap at the station, so I had to walk, carrying my suitcase, and itwas nearly dark before I arrived. It is a great wandering house, standing ina considerable park. I should judge it was of all sorts of ages and styles,starting on a half-timbered Elizabethan foundation and ending in aVictorian portico. Inside it was all panelling and tapestry and half-effacedold pictures, a house of shadows and mystery. There was a butler, oldRalph, who seemed about the same age as the house, and there was hiswife, who might have been older. She had been Godfrey's nurse, and Ihad heard him speak of her as second only to his mother in his affections,so I was drawn to her in spite of her queer appearance. The mother I likedalso-a gentle little white mouse of a woman. It was only the colonelhimself whom I barred. "We had a bit of barney right away, and I should have walked back tothe station if I had not felt that it might be playing his game for me to doso. I was shown straight into his study, and there I found him, a huge,bow-backed man with a smoky skin and a straggling gray beard, seatedbehind his littered desk. A red-veined nose jutted out like a vulture'sbeak, and two fierce gray eyes glared at me from under tufted brows. Icould understand now why Godfrey seldom spoke of his father." 'Well, sir,' said he in a rasping voice, 'I should be interested to knowthe real reasons for this visit.'"I answered that I had explained them in my letter to his wife." 'Yes, yes, you said that you had known Godfrey in Africa. We have,of course, only your word for that.'" 'I have his letters to me in my pocket.'" 'Kindly let me see them.'"He glanced at the two which I handed him, and then he tossed themback." 'Well, what then?' he asked." 'I was fond of your son Godfrey, sir. Many ties and memories unitedus. Is it not natural that I should wonder at his sudden silence and shouldwish to know what has become of him?'" 'I have some recollections, sir, that I had already corresponded withyou and had told you what had become of him. He has gone upon avoyage round the world. His health was in a poor way after his Africanexperiences, and both his mother and I were of opinion that complete restand change were needed. Kindly pass that explanation on to any otherfriends who may be interested in the matter.'" 'Certainly,' I answered. 'But perhaps you would have the goodness tolet me have the name of the steamer and of the line by which he sailed,together with the date. I have no doubt that I should be able to get a letterthrough to him.'"My request seemed both to puzzle and to irritate my host. His greateyebrows came down over his eyes, and he tapped his fingers impatientlyon the table. He looked up at last with the expression of one who has seenhis adversary make a dangerous move at chess, and has decided how tomeet it." 'Many people, Mr. Dodd,' said he, 'would take offence at yourinfernal pertinacity and would think that this insistence had reached thepoint of damned impertinence.'[1003] " 'You must put it down, sir, to my real love for your son.'" 'Exactly. I have already made every allowance upon that score. Imust ask you, however, to drop these inquiries. Every family has its owninner knowledge and its own motives, which cannot always be made clearto outsiders, however well-intentioned. My wife is anxious to hearsomething of Godfrey's past which you are in a position to tell her, but Iwould ask you to let the present and the future alone. Such inquiries serveno useful purpose, sir, and place us in a delicate and difficult position.'"So I came to a dead end, Mr. Holmes. There was no getting past it. Icould only pretend to accept the situation and register a vow inwardly thatI would never rest until my friend's fate had been cleared up. It was a dull evening. We dined quietly, the three of us, in a gloomy, faded old room.The lady questioned me eagerly about her son, but the old man seemedmorose and depressed. I was so bored by the whole proceeding that Imade an excuse as soon as I decently could and retired to my bedroom. Itwas a large, bare room on the ground floor, as gloomy as the rest of thehouse, but after a year of sleeping upon the veldt, Mr. Holmes, one is nottoo particular about one's quarters. I opened the curtains and looked outinto the garden, remarking that it was a fine night with a bright halfmoon. Then I sat down by the roaring fire with the lamp on a table besideme, and endeavoured to distract my mind with a novel. I was interrupted,however, by Ralph, the old butler, who came in with a fresh supply ofcoals." 'I thought you might run short in the night-time, sir. It is bitterweather and these rooms are cold.'"He hesitated before leaving the room, and when I looked round he wasstanding facing me with a wistful look upon his wrinkled face." 'Beg your pardon, sir, but I could not help hearing what you said ofyoung Master Godfrey at dinner. You know, sir, that my wife nursed him,and so I may say I am his foster-father. It's natural we should take aninterest. And you say he carried himself well, sir?'" 'There was no braver man in the regiment. He pulled me out oncefrom under the rifles of the Boers, or maybe I should not be here.'"The old butler rubbed his skinny hands." 'Yes, sir, yes, that is Master Godfrey all over. He was alwayscourageous. There's not a tree in the park, sir, that he has not climbed.Nothing would stop him. He was a fine boy-and oh, sir, he was a fineman.'"I sprang to my feet." 'Look here!' I cried. 'You say he was. You speak as if he were dead.What is all this mystery? What has become of Godfrey Emsworth?'"I gripped the old man by the shoulder, but he shrank away." 'I don't know what you mean, sir. Ask the master about MasterGodfrey. He knows. It is not for me to interfere.'"He was leaving the room, but I held his arm." 'Listen,' I said. 'You are going to answer one question before youleave if I have to hold you all night. Is Godfrey dead?'"He could not face my eyes. He was like a man hypnotized. The answerwas dragged from his lips. It was a terrible and unexpected one." 'I wish to God he was!' he cried, and, tearing himself free, he dashedfrom the room."You will think, Mr. Holmes, that I returned to my chair in no veryhappy [1004] state of mind. The old man's words seemed to me to bearonly one interpretation. Clearly my poor friend had become involved insome criminal or, at the least, disreputable transaction which touched thefamily honour. That stern old man had sent his son away and hidden himfrom the world lest some scandal should come to light. Godfrey was areckless fellow. He was easily influenced by those around him. No doubthe had fallen into bad hands and been misled to his ruin. It was a piteousbusiness, if it was indeed so, but even now it was my duty to hunt him outand see if I could aid him. I was anxiously pondering the matter when Ilooked up, and there was Godfrey Emsworth standing before me."My client had paused as one in deep emotion."Pray continue," I said. "Your problem presents some very unusualfeatures.""He was outside the window, Mr. Holmes, with his face pressed against the glass. I have told you that I looked out at the night. When I did so Ileft the curtains partly open. His figure was framed in this gap. Thewindow came down to the ground and I could see the whole length of it,but it was his face which held my gaze. He was deadly pale-never have Iseen a man so white. I reckon ghosts may look like that; but his eyes metmine, and they were the eyes of a living man. He sprang back when hesaw that I was looking at him, and he vanished into the darkness."There was something shocking about the man, Mr. Holmes. It wasn'tmerely that ghastly face glimmering as white as cheese in the darkness. Itwas more subtle than that-something slinking, something furtive,something guilty- something very unlike the frank, manly lad that I hadknown. It left a feeling of horror in my mind."But when a man has been soldiering for a year or two with brotherBoer as a playmate, he keeps his nerve and acts quickly. Godfrey hadhardly vanished before I was at the window. There was an awkwardcatch, and I was some little time before I could throw it up. Then I nippedthrough and ran down the garden path in the direction that I thought hemight have taken."It was a long path and the light was not very good, but it seemed to mesomething was moving ahead of me. I ran on and called his name, but itwas no use. When I got to the end of the path there were several othersbranching in different directions to various outhouses. I stood hesitating,and as I did so I heard distinctly the sound of a closing door. It was notbehind me in the house, but ahead of me, somewhere in the darkness.That was enough, Mr. Holmes, to assure me that what I had seen was not a vision. Godfrey had run away from me, and he had shut a door behindhim. Of that I was certain."There was nothing more I could do, and I spent an uneasy nightturning the matter over in my mind and trying to find some theory whichwould cover the facts. Next day I found the colonel rather moreconciliatory, and as his wife remarked that there were some places ofinterest in the neighbourhood, it gave me an opening to ask whether mypresence for one more night would incommode them. A somewhatgrudging acquiescence from the old man gave me a clear day in which tomake my observations. I was already perfectly convinced that Godfreywas in hiding somewhere near, but where and why remained to be solved."The house was so large and so rambling that a regiment might be hidaway in it and no one the wiser. If the secret lay there it was difficult forme to penetrate it. But the door which I had heard close was certainly notin the house. I must [1005] explore the garden and see what I could find.There was no difficulty in the way, for the old people were busy in theirown fashion and left me to my own devices."There were several small outhouses, but at the end of the garden therewas a detached building of some size-large enough for a gardener's or agamekeeper's residence. Could this be the place whence the sound of thatshutting door had come? I approached it in a careless fashion as though Iwere strolling aimlessly round the grounds. As I did so, a small, brisk,bearded man in a black coat and bowler hat-not at all the gardenertype-came out of the door. To my surprise, he locked it after him and putthe key in his pocket. Then he looked at me with some surprise on hisface." 'Are you a visitor here?' he asked."I explained that I was and that I was a friend of Godfrey's." 'What a pity that he should be away on his travels, for he would haveso liked to see me,' I continued." 'Quite so. Exactly,' said he with a rather guilty air. 'No doubt youwill renew your visit at some more propitious time.' He passed on, butwhen I turned I observed that he was standing watching me, halfconcealed by the laurels at the far end of the garden."I had a good look at the little house as I passed it, but the windowswere heavily curtained, and, so far as one could see, it was empty. I mightspoil my own game and even be ordered off the premises if I were tooaudacious, for I was still conscious that I was being watched. Therefore, Istrolled back to the house and waited for night before I went on with myinquiry. When all was dark and quiet I slipped out of my window andmade my way as silently as possible to the mysterious lodge."I have said that it was heavily curtained, but now I found that thewindows were shuttered as well. Some light, however, was breakingthrough one of them, so I concentrated my attention upon this. I was inluck, for the curtain had not been quite closed, and there was a crack inthe shutter, so that I could see the inside of the room. It was a cheeryplace enough, a bright lamp and a blazing fire. Opposite to me was seatedthe little man whom I had seen in the morning. He was smoking a pipeand reading a paper." "What paper?" I asked.My client seemed annoyed at the interruption of his narrative."Can it matter?" he asked."It is most essential.""I really took no notice.""Possibly you observed whether it was a broad-leafed paper or of thatsmaller type which one associates with weeklies.""Now that you mention it, it was not large. It might have been theSpectator. However, I had little thought to spare upon such details, for asecond man was seated with his back to the window, and I could swearthat this second man was Godfrey. I could not see his face, but I knew thefamiliar slope of his shoulders. He was leaning upon his elbow in anattitude of great melancholy, his body turned towards the fire. I washesitating as to what I should do when there was a sharp tap on myshoulder, and there was Colonel Emsworth beside me." 'This way, sir!' said he in a low voice. He walked in silence to thehouse, and I followed him into my own bedroom. He had picked up atime-table in the hall.[1006] " 'There is a train to London at 8:30,' said he. 'The trap will be atthe door at eight.'"He was white with rage, and, indeed, I felt myself in so difficult aposition that I could only stammer out a few incoherent apologies inwhich I tried to excuse myself by urging my anxiety for my friend." 'The matter will not bear discussion,' said he abruptly. 'You havemade a most damnable intrusion into the privacy of our family. You werehere as a guest and you have become a spy. I have nothing more to say,sir, save that I have no wish ever to see you again.'"At this I lost my temper, Mr. Holmes, and I spoke with some warmth." 'I have seen your son, and I am convinced that for some reason ofyour own you are concealing him from the world. I have no idea whatyour motives are in cutting him off in this fashion, but I am sure that he isno longer a free agent. I warn you, Colonel Emsworth, that until I amassured as to the safety and well-being of my friend I shall never desist inmy efforts to get to the bottom of the mystery, and I shall certainly notallow myself to be intimidated by anything which you may say or do.'"The old fellow looked diabolical, and I really thought he was about toattack me. I have said that he was a gaunt, fierce old giant, and though Iam no weakling I might have been hard put to it to hold my own againsthim. However, after a long glare of rage he turned upon his heel andwalked out of the room. For my part, I took the appointed train in themorning, with the full intention of coming straight to you and asking foryour advice and assistance at the appointment for which I had alreadywritten."Such was the problem which my visitor laid before me. It presented, asthe astute reader will have already perceived, few difficulties in itssolution, for a very limited choice of alternatives must get to the root ofthe matter. Still, elementary as it was, there were points of interest andnovelty about it which may excuse my placing it upon record. I nowproceeded, using my familiar method of logical analysis, to narrow down the possible solutions."The servants," I asked; "how many were in the house?""To the best of my belief there were only the old butler and his wife.They seemed to live in the simplest fashion.""There was no servant, then, in the detached house?""None, unless the little man with the beard acted as such. He seemed,however, to be quite a superior person.""That seems very suggestive. Had you any indication that food wasconveyed from the one house to the other?""Now that you mention it, I did see old Ralph carrying a basket downthe garden walk and going in the direction of this house. The idea of fooddid not occur to me at the moment.""Did you make any local inquiries?""Yes, I did. I spoke to the station-master and also to the innkeeper inthe village. I simply asked if they knew anything of my old comrade,Godfrey Emsworth. Both of them assured me that he had gone for avoyage round the world. He had come home and then had almost at oncestarted off again. The story was evidently universally accepted.""You said nothing of your suspicions?""Nothing."[1007] "That was very wise. The matter should certainly be inquiredinto. I will go back with you to Tuxbury Old Park.""To-day?"It happened that at the moment I was clearing up the case which myfriend Watson has described as that of the Abbey School, in which theDuke of Greyminster was so deeply involved. I had also a commissionfrom the Sultan of Turkey which called for immediate action, as politicalconsequences of the gravest kind might arise from its neglect. Therefore itwas not until the beginning of the next week, as my diary records, that Iwas able to start forth on my mission to Bedfordshire in company withMr. James M. Dodd. As we drove to Euston we picked up a grave andtaciturn gentleman of iron-gray aspect, with whom I had made thenecessary arrangements."This is an old friend," said I to Dodd. "It is possible that his presencemay be entirely unnecessary, and, on the other hand, it may be essential.It is not necessary at the present stage to go further into the matter."The narratives of Watson have accustomed the reader, no doubt, to thefact that I do not waste words or disclose my thoughts while a case isactually under consideration. Dodd seemed surprised, but nothing morewas said, and the three of us continued our journey together. In the train Iasked Dodd one more question which I wished our companion to hear."You say that you saw your friend's face quite clearly at the window,so clearly that you are sure of his identity?""I have no doubt about it whatever. His nose was pressed against theglass. The lamplight shone full upon him.""It could not have been someone resembling him?""No, no, it was he.""But you say he was changed?""Only in colour. His face was-how shall I describe it?-it was of a fish-belly whiteness. It was bleached.""Was it equally pale all over?""I think not. It was his brow which I saw so clearly as it was pressedagainst the window.""Did you call to him?""I was too startled and horrified for the moment. Then I pursued him,as I have told you, but without result."My case was practically complete, and there was only one smallincident needed to round it off. When, after a considerable drive, wearrived at the strange old rambling house which my client had described,it was Ralph, the elderly butler, who opened the door. I had requisitionedthe carriage for the day and had asked my elderly friend to remain withinit unless we should summon him. Ralph, a little wrinkled old fellow, wasin the conventional costume of black coat and pepper-and-salt trousers,with only one curious variant. He wore brown leather gloves, which atsight of us he instantly shuffled off, laying them down on the hall-table aswe passed in. I have, as my friend Watson may have remarked, anabnormally acute set of senses, and a faint but incisive scent wasapparent. It seemed to centre on the hall-table. I turned, placed my hatthere, knocked it off, stooped to pick it up, and contrived to bring my nosewithin a foot of the gloves. Yes, it was undoubtedly from them that thecurious tarry odour was oozing. I passed on into the study with my casecomplete. Alas, that I should have to show my hand so when [1008] I tellmy own story! It was by concealing such links in the chain that Watsonwas enabled to produce his meretricious finales.Colonel Emsworth was not in his room, but he came quickly enough onreceipt of Ralph's message. We heard his quick, heavy step in thepassage. The door was flung open and he rushed in with bristling beardand twisted features, as terrible an old man as ever I have seen. He heldour cards in his hand, and he tore them up and stamped on the fragments."Have I not told you, you infernal busybody, that you are warned offthe premises? Never dare to show your damned face here again. If youenter again without my leave I shall be within my rights if I use violence.I'll shoot you, sir! By God, I will! As to you, sir," turning upon me, "Iextend the same warning to you. I am familiar with your ignobleprofession, but you must take your reputed talents to some other field.There is no opening for them here.""I cannot leave here," said my client firmly, "until I hear fromGodfrey's own lips that he is under no restraint."Our involuntary host rang the bell."Ralph," he said, "telephone down to the county police and ask theinspector to send up two constables. Tell him there are burglars in thehouse.""One moment," said I. "You must be aware, Mr. Dodd, that ColonelEmsworth is within his rights and that we have no legal status within hishouse. On the other hand, he should recognize that your action isprompted entirely by solicitude for his son. I venture to hope that if I wereallowed to have five minutes' conversation with Colonel Emsworth Icould certainly alter his view of the matter." "I am not so easily altered," said the old soldier. "Ralph, do what I havetold you. What the devil are you waiting for? Ring up the police!""Nothing of the sort," I said, putting my back to the door. "Any policeinterference would bring about the very catastrophe which you dread." Itook out my notebook and scribbled one word upon a loose sheet. "That,"said I as I handed it to Colonel Emsworth, "is what has brought us here."He stared at the writing with a face from which every expression saveamazement had vanished."How do you know?" he gasped, sitting down heavily in his chair."It is my business to know things. That is my trade."He sat in deep thought, his gaunt hand tugging at his straggling beard.Then he made a gesture of resignation."Well, if you wish to see Godfrey, you shall. It is no doing of mine, butyou have forced my hand. Ralph, tell Mr. Godfrey and Mr. Kent that infive minutes we shall be with them."At the end of that time we passed down the garden path and foundourselves in front of the mystery house at the end. A small bearded manstood at the door with a look of considerable astonishment upon his face."This is very sudden, Colonel Emsworth," said he. "This willdisarrange all our plans.""I can't help it, Mr. Kent. Our hands have been forced. Can Mr.Godfrey see us?""Yes, he is waiting inside." He turned and led us into a large, plainlyfurnished front room. A man was standing with his back to the fire, and atthe sight of him my client sprang forward with outstretched hand."Why, Godfrey, old man, this is fine!"[1009] But the other waved him back."Don't touch me, Jimmie. Keep your distance. Yes, you may wellstare! I don't quite look the smart Lance-Corporal Emsworth, of BSquadron, do I?"His appearance was certainly extraordinary. One could see that he hadindeed been a handsome man with clear-cut features sunburned by anAfrican sun, but mottled in patches over this darker surface were curiouswhitish patches which had bleached his skin."That's why I don't court visitors," said he. "I don't mind you, Jimmie,but I could have done without your friend. I suppose there is some goodreason for it, but you have me at a disadvantage.""I wanted to be sure that all was well with you, Godfrey. I saw you thatnight when you looked into my window, and I could not let the matter resttill I had cleared things up.""Old Ralph told me you were there, and I couldn't help taking a peep atyou. I hoped you would not have seen me, and I had to run to my burrowwhen I heard the window go up.""But what in heaven's name is the matter?""Well, it's not a long story to tell," said he, lighting a cigarette. "Youremember that morning fight at Buffelsspruit, outside Pretoria, on theEastern railway line? You heard I was hit?""Yes, I heard that, but I never got particulars.""Three of us got separated from the others. It was very broken country, you may remember. There was Simpson-the fellow we called BaldySimpson- and Anderson, and I. We were clearing brother Boer, but he laylow and got the three of us. The other two were killed. I got an elephantbullet through my shoulder. I stuck on to my horse, however, and hegalloped several miles before I fainted and rolled off the saddle."When I came to myself it was nightfall, and I raised myself up, feelingvery weak and ill. To my surprise there was a house close beside me, afairly large house with a broad stoep and many windows. It was deadlycold. You remember the kind of numb cold which used to come atevening, a deadly, sickening sort of cold, very different from a crisphealthy frost. Well, I was chilled to the bone, and my only hope seemed tolie in reaching that house. I staggered to my feet and dragged myselfalong, hardly conscious of what I did. I have a dim memory of slowlyascending the steps, entering a wide-opened door, passing into a largeroom which contained several beds, and throwing myself down with agasp of satisfaction upon one of them. It was unmade, but that troubledme not at all. I drew the clothes over my shivering body and in a momentI was in a deep sleep."It was morning when I wakened, and it seemed to me that instead ofcoming out into a world of sanity I had emerged into some extraordinarynightmare. The African sun flooded through the big, curtainless windows,and every detail of the great, bare, whitewashed dormitory stood out hardand clear. In front of me was standing a small, dwarf-like man with ahuge, bulbous head, who was jabbering excitedly in Dutch, waving twohorrible hands which looked to me like brown sponges. Behind him stooda group of people who seemed to be intensely amused by the situation,but a chill came over me as I looked at them. Not one of them was anormal human being. Every one was twisted or swollen or disfigured insome strange way. The laughter of these strange monstrosities was adreadful thing to hear.[1010] "It seemed that none of them could speak English, but thesituation wanted clearing up, for the creature with the big head wasgrowing furiously angry, and, uttering wild-beast cries, he had laid hisdeformed hands upon me and was dragging me out of bed, regardless ofthe fresh flow of blood from my wound. The little monster was as strongas a bull, and I don't know what he might have done to me had not anelderly man who was clearly in authority been attracted to the room bythe hubbub. He said a few stern words in Dutch, and my persecutorshrank away. Then he turned upon me, gazing at me in the utmostamazement." 'How in the world did you come here?' he asked in amazement.'Wait a bit! I see that you are tired out and that wounded shoulder ofyours wants looking after. I am a doctor, and I'll soon have you tied up.But, man alive! you are in far greater danger here than ever you were onthe battlefield. You are in the Leper Hospital, and you have slept in aleper's bed.'"Need I tell you more, Jimmie? It seems that in view of theapproaching battle all these poor creatures had been evacuated the daybefore. Then, as the British advanced, they had been brought back by this, their medical superintendent, who assured me that, though he believed hewas immune to the disease, he would none the less never have dared to dowhat I had done. He put me in a private room, treated me kindly, andwithin a week or so I was removed to the general hospital at Pretoria."So there you have my tragedy. I hoped against hope, but it was notuntil I had reached home that the terrible signs which you see upon myface told me that I had not escaped. What was I to do? I was in this lonelyhouse. We had two servants whom we could utterly trust. There was ahouse where I could live. Under pledge of secrecy, Mr. Kent, who is asurgeon, was prepared to stay with me. It seemed simple enough on thoselines. The alternative was a dreadful one -segregation for life amongstrangers with never a hope of release. But absolute secrecy wasnecessary, or even in this quiet countryside there would have been anoutcry, and I should have been dragged to my horrible doom. Even you,Jimmie-even you had to be kept in the dark. Why my father has relented Icannot imagine."Colonel Emsworth pointed to me."This is the gentleman who forced my hand." He unfolded the scrap ofpaper on which I had written the word "Leprosy." "It seemed to me that ifhe knew so much as that it was safer that he should know all.""And so it was," said I. "Who knows but good may come of it? Iunderstand that only Mr. Kent has seen the patient. May I ask, sir, if youare an authority on such complaints, which are, I understand, tropical orsemi-tropical in their nature?""I have the ordinary knowledge of the educated medical man," heobserved with some stiffness."I have no doubt, sir, that you are fully competent, but I am sure thatyou will agree that in such a case a second opinion is valuable. You haveavoided this, I understand, for fear that pressure should be put upon youto segregate the patient.""That is so," said Colonel Emsworth. "I foresaw this situation," I explained, "and I have brought with me afriend whose discretion may absolutely be trusted. I was able once to dohim a professional service, and he is ready to advise as a friend ratherthan as a specialist. His name is Sir James Saunders."[1011] The prospect of an interview with Lord Roberts would not haveexcited greater wonder and pleasure in a raw subaltern than was nowreflected upon the face of Mr. Kent."I shall indeed be proud," he murmured."Then I will ask Sir James to step this way. He is at present in thecarriage outside the door. Meanwhile, Colonel Emsworth, we mayperhaps assemble in your study, where I could give the necessaryexplanations."And here it is that I miss my Watson. By cunning questions andejaculations of wonder he could elevate my simple art, which is butsystematized common sense, into a prodigy. When I tell my own story Ihave no such aid. And yet I will give my process of thought even as Igave it to my small audience, which included Godfrey's mother in thestudy of Colonel Emsworth."That process," said I, "starts upon the supposition that when you haveeliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, howeverimprobable, must be the truth. It may well be that several explanationsremain, in which case one tries test after test until one or other of themhas a convincing amount of support. We will now apply this principle tothe case in point. As it was first presented to me, there were three possibleexplanations of the seclusion or incarceration of this gentleman in anouthouse of his father's mansion. There was the explanation that he wasin hiding for a crime, or that he was mad and that they wished to avoid anasylum, or that he had some disease which caused his segregation. I couldthink of no other adequate solutions. These, then, had to be sifted andbalanced against each other."The criminal solution would not bear inspection. No unsolved crimehad been reported from that district. I was sure of that. If it were somecrime not yet discovered, then clearly it would be to the interest of thefamily to get rid of the delinquent and send him abroad rather than keephim concealed at home. I could see no explanation for such a line ofconduct."Insanity was more plausible. The presence of the second person in theouthouse suggested a keeper. The fact that he locked the door when hecame out strengthened the supposition and gave the idea of constraint. Onthe other hand, this constraint could not be severe or the young man couldnot have got loose and come down to have a look at his friend. You willremember, Mr. Dodd, that I felt round for points, asking you, forexample, about the paper which Mr. Kent was reading. Had it been theLancet or the British Medical Journal it would have helped me. It is notillegal, however, to keep a lunatic upon private premises so long as thereis a qualified person in attendance and that the authorities have been dulynotified. Why, then, all this desperate desire for secrecy? Once again Icould not get the theory to fit the facts."There remained the third possibility, into which, rare and unlikely as it was, everything seemed to fit. Leprosy is not uncommon in South Africa.By some extraordinary chance this youth might have contracted it. Hispeople would be placed in a very dreadful position, since they woulddesire to save him from segregation. Great secrecy would be needed toprevent rumours from getting about and subsequent interference by theauthorities. A devoted medical man, if sufficiently paid, would easily befound to take charge of the sufferer. There would be no reason why thelatter should not be allowed freedom after dark. Bleaching of the skin is acommon result of the disease. The case was a strong one-so strong that Idetermined to act as if it were actually proved. When on arriving here Inoticed [1012] that Ralph, who carries out the meals, had gloves which areimpregnated with disinfectants, my last doubts were removed. A singleword showed you, sir, that your secret was discovered, and if I wroterather than said it, it was to prove to you that my discretion was to betrusted."I was finishing this little analysis of the case when the door was openedand the austere figure of the great dermatologist was ushered in. But foronce his sphinx-like features had relaxed and there was a warm humanityin his eyes. He strode up to Colonel Emsworth and shook him by the hand."It is often my lot to bring ill-tidings and seldom good," said he. "Thisoccasion is the more welcome. It is not leprosy.""What?""A well-marked case of pseudo-leprosy or ichthyosis, a scale-likeaffection of the skin, unsightly, obstinate, but possibly curable, andcertainly noninfective. Yes, Mr. Holmes, the coincidence is a remarkableone. But is it coincidence? Are there not subtle forces at work of whichwe know little? Are we assured that the apprehension from which thisyoung man has no doubt suffered terribly since his exposure to itscontagion may not produce a physical effect which simulates that which itfears? At any rate, I pledge my professional reputation- - But the ladyhas fainted! I think that Mr. Kent had better be with her until she recoversfrom this joyous shock."