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and followed her。 In all the broad landscape those were the only
moving figures； the graceful girl sitting very straight upon her
machine； and the man behind her bending low over his handle…bar with a
curiously furtive suggestion in every movement。 She looked back at him
and slowed her pace。 He slowed also。 She stopped。 He at once
stopped； too； keeping two hundred yards behind her。 Her next
movement was as unexpected as it was spirited。 She suddenly whisked
her wheels round and dashed straight at him。 He was as quick as she；
however； and darted off in desperate flight。 Presently she came back
up the road again； her head haughtily in the air； not deigning to take
any further notice of her silent attendant。 He had turned also； and
still kept his distance until the curve of the road hid them from my
sight。
I remained in my hiding…place； and it was well that I did so； for
presently the man reappeared； cycling slowly back。 He turned in at the
Hall gates； and dismounted from his machine。 For some minutes I
could see him standing among the trees。 His hands were raised； and
he seemed to be settling his necktie。 Then he mounted his cycle； and
rode away from me down the drive towards the Hall。 I ran across the
heath and peered through the trees。 Far away I could catch glimpses of
the old gray building with its bristling Tudor chimneys； but the drive
ran through a dense shrubbery； and I saw no more of my man。
However； it seemed to me that I had done a fairly good morning's
work； and I walked back in high spirits to Farnham。 The local house
agent could tell me nothing about Charlington Hall； and referred me to
a well known firm in Pall Mall。 There I halted on my way home； and met
with courtesy from the representative。 No； I could not have
Charlington Hall for the summer。 I was just too late。 It had been
let about a month ago。 Mr。 Williamson was the name of the tenant。 He
was a respectable； elderly gentleman。 The polite agent was afraid he
could say no more； as the affairs of his clients were not matters
which he could discuss。
Mr。 Sherlock Holmes listened with attention to the long report which
I was able to present to him that evening； but it did not elicit
that word of curt praise which I had hoped for and should have valued。
On the contrary； his austere face was even more severe than usual as
he commented upon the things that I had done and the things that I had
not。
〃Your hiding…place； my dear Watson； was very faulty。 You should have
been behind the hedge； then you would have had a close view of this
interesting person。 As it is； you were some hundreds of yards away and
can tell me even less than Miss Smith。 She thinks she does not know
the man； I am convinced she does。 Why； otherwise； should he be so
desperately anxious that she should not get so near him as to see
his features？ You describe him as bending over the handle…bar。
Concealment again； you see。 You really have done remarkably badly。
He returns to the house； and you want to find out who he is。 You
come to a London house agent！〃
〃What should I have done？〃 I cried； with some heat。
〃Gone to the nearest public…house。 That is the centre of country
gossip。 They would have told you every name； from the master to the
scullery…maid。 Williamson？ It conveys nothing to my mind。 If he is
an elderly man he is not this active cyclist who sprints away from
that young lady's athletic pursuit。 What have we gained by your
expedition？ The knowledge that the girl's story is true。 I never
doubted it。 That there is a connection between the cyclist and the
Hall。 I never doubted that either。 That the Hall is tenanted by
Williamson。 Who's the better for that？ Well； well； my dear sir；
don't look so depressed。 We can do little more until next Saturday；
and in the meantime I may make one or two inquiries myself。〃
Next morning； we had a note from Miss Smith； recounting shortly
and accurately the very incidents which I had seen； but the pith of
the letter lay in the postscript：
I am sure that you will respect my confidence； Mr。 Holmes； when I
tell you that my place here has become difficult； owing to the fact
that my employer has proposed marriage to me。 I am convinced that
his feelings are most deep and most honourable。 At the same time； my
promise is of course given。 He took my refusal very seriously； but
also very gently。 You can understand； however； that the situation is a
little strained。
〃Our young friend seems to be getting into deep waters；〃 said Holmes；
thoughtfully； as he finished the letter。 〃The case certainly
presents more features of interest and more possibility of development
than I had originally thought。 I should be none the worse for a quiet；
peaceful day in the country； and I am inclined to run down this
afternoon and test one or two theories which I have formed。〃
Holmes's quiet day in the country had a singular termination； for he
arrived at Baker Street late in the evening； with a cut lip and a
discoloured lump upon his forehead； besides a general air of
dissipation which would have made his own person the fitting object of
a Scotland Yard investigation。 He was immensely tickled by his own
adventures and laughed heartily as be recounted them。
〃I get so little active exercise that it is always a treat〃 said he。
〃You are aware that I have some proficiency in the good old British
sport of boxing。 Occasionally； it is of service； to…day； for
example； I should have come to very ignominious grief without it。〃
I begged him to tell me what had occurred。
〃I found that country pub which I had already recommended to your
notice； and there I made my discreet inquiries。 I was in the bar；
and a garrulous landlord was giving me all that I wanted。 Williamson
is a white…bearded man； and he lives alone with a small staff of
servants at the Hall。 There is some rumor that he is or has been a
clergyman； but one or two incidents of his short residence at the Hall
struck me as peculiarly unecclesiastical。 I have already made some
inquiries at a clerical agency； and they tell me that there was a
man of that name in orders； whose career has been a singularly dark
one。 The landlord further informed me that there are usually weekend
visitors… ‘a warm lot； sir'… at the Hall； and especially one gentleman
with a red moustache； Mr。 Woodley by name； who was always there。 We
had got as far as this； when who should walk in but the gentleman
himself； who had been drinking his beer in the tap…room and had
heard the whole conversation。 Who was I？ What did I want？ What did I
mean by asking questions？ He had a fine flow of language； and his
adjectives were very vigorous。 He ended a string of abuse by a vicious
backhander； which I failed to entirely avoid。 The next few minutes
were delicious。 It was a straight left against a slogging ruffian。 I
emerged as you see me。 Mr。 Woodley went home in a cart。 So ended my
country trip； and it must be confessed that； however enjoyable； my day
on the Surrey border has not been much more profitable than your own。〃
The Thursday brought us another letter from our client。
You will not be surprised； Mr。 Holmes ＇said she＇ to hear that I am
leaving Mr。 Carruthers's employment。 Even the high pay cannot
reconcile me to the discomforts of my situation。 On Saturday I come up
to town； and I do not intend to return。 Mr。 Carruthers has got a trap；
and so the dangers of the lonely road； if there ever were any dangers；
are now over。
As to the special cause of my leaving； it is not merely the strained
situation with Mr。 Carruthers； but it is the reappearance of that
odious man； Mr。 Woodley。 He was always hideous； but he looks more
awful than ever now； for he appears to have had an accident and he
is much disfigured。 I saw him out of the window； but I am glad to
say I did not meet him。 He had a long talk with Mr。 Carruthers； who
seemed much excited afterwards。 Woodley must be staying in the
neighbourhood； for he did not sleep here； and yet I caught a glimpse
of him again this morning； slinking about in the shrubbery。 I would
so