“ One must do something to ease an aching heart.”That washis own explanation. It was eccentric, no doubt, but he is clearlyan eccentric man. He tore up one of his wife’s photographs in mypresence—tore it up furiously in a tempest of passion. ‘I neverwish to see her damned face again,’ he shrieked.”
“Anything more, Watson?”
“Yes, one thing which struck me more than anything else. Ihad driven to the Blackheath Station and had caught my trainthere when, just as it was starting, I saw a man dart into thecarriage next to my own. You know that I have a quick eye forfaces, Holmes. It was undoubtedly the tall, dark man whom I hadaddressed in the street. I saw him once more at London Bridge,and then I lost him in the crowd. But I am convinced that he wasfollowing me.”
“No doubt! No doubt!” said Holmes. “A tall, dark, heavilymoustached man, you say, with gray-tinted sun-glasses?”
“Holmes, you are a wizard. I did not say so, but he had graytintedsun-glasses.”
“And a Masonic tie-pin?”
“Holmes!”
“Quite simple, my dear Watson. But let us get down to what ispractical. I must admit to you that the case, which seemed to meto be so absurdly simple as to be hardly worth my notice, is rapidlyassuming a very different aspect. It is true that though in yourmission you have missed everything of importance, yet even thosethings which have obtruded themselves upon your notice give riseto serious thought.”
“What have I missed?”
“Don’t be hurt, my dear fellow. You know that I am quiteimpersonal. No one else would have done better. Some possiblynot so well. But clearly you have missed some vital points. Whatthe opinion of the neighbours about this man Amberley and hiswife? That surely is of importance. What of Dr. Ernest? Was hethe gay Lothario one would expect? With your natural advantages,Watson, every lady is your helper and accomplice. What about thegirl at the post-office, or the wife of the greengrocer? I can pictureyou whispering soft nothings with the young lady at the BlueAnchor, and receiving hard somethings in exchange. All this youhave left undone.”
“It can still be done.”
The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes 1405
“It has been done. Thanks to the telephone and the help of theYard, I can usually get my essentials without leaving this room. Asa matter of fact, my information confirms the man’s story. He hasthe local repute of being a miser as well as a harsh and exactinghusband. That he had a large sum of money in that strong-roomof his is certain. So also is it that young Dr. Ernest, an unmarriedman, played chess with Amberley, and probably played the foolwith his wife. All this seems plain sailing, and one would thinkthat there was no more to be said—and yet!—and yet!”
“Where lies the difficulty?”
“In my imagination, perhaps. Well, leave it there, Watson. Let usescape from this weary workaday world by the side door of music.
Carina sings to-night at the Albert Hall, and we still have time todress, dine, and enjoy.”
In the morning I was up betimes, but some toast crumbs andtwo empty eggshells told me that my companion was earlier still. Ifound a scribbled note upon the table.
DEAR WATSON:
There are one or two points of contact which I should wish toestablish with Mr. Josiah Amberley. When I have done so we candismiss the case—or not. I would only ask you to be on hand aboutthree o’clock, as I conceive it possible that I may want you.
I saw nothing of Holmes all day, but at the hour named hereturned, grave, preoccupied, and aloof. At such times it was wiserto leave him to himself.
“Has Amberley been here yet?”
“No.”
“Ah! I am expecting him.”
He was not disappointed, for presently the old fellow arrivedwith a very worried and puzzled expression upon his austere face.
“I’ve had a telegram, Mr. Holmes. I can make nothing of it.” Hehanded it over, and Holmes read it aloud.
“Come at once without fail. Can give you information as to yourrecent loss.
“ELMAN.
“The Vicarage.
“Dispatched at 2:10 from Little Purlington,” said Holmes. “LittlePurlington is in Essex, I believe, not far from Frinton. Well, ofcourse you will start at once. This is evidently from a responsibleperson, the vicar of the place. Where is my Crockford? Yes, herewe have him: ‘J. C. Elman, M. A., Living of Moosmoor cum LittlePurlington.’ Look up the trains, Watson.”
“There is one at 5:20 from Liverpool Street.”
“Excellent. You had best go with him, Watson. He may needhelp or advice. Clearly we have come to a crisis in this affair.”
But our client seemed by no means eager to start.
“It’s perfectly absurd, Mr. Holmes,” he said. “What can thisman possibly know of what has occurred? It is waste of time andmoney.”
“He would not have telegraphed to you if he did not knowsomething. Wire at once that you are coming.”
“I don’t think I shall go.”
Holmes assumed his sternest aspect.
“It would make the worst possible impression both on thepolice and upon myself, Mr. Amberley, if when so obvious a cluearose you should refuse to follow it up. We should feel that youwere not really in earnest in this investigation.”
Our client seemed horrified at the suggestion.
“Why, of course I shall go if you look at it in that way,” said he.
On the face of it, it seems absurd to suppose that this parsonknows anything, but if you think——”
“I do think,” said Holmes with emphasis, and so we werelaunched upon our journey. Holmes took me aside before we leftthe room and gave me one word of counsel, which showed that heconsidered the matter to be of importance. “Whatever you do, seethat he really does go,” said he. “Should he break away or return,get to the nearest telephone exchange and send the single wordBolted.’ I will arrange here that it shall reach me wherever I am.”
