No. 2 The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier by Arthur Conan Doyle
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reckless fellow . he_was easily influenced by_those around him . no_doubt he had fallen into bad hands and been misled to_his ruin . it_was a piteous business, if_it_was indeed so, but even now it_was my duty to hunt him out and_see if I_could aid him . i_was anxiously pondering the matter when I looked 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 unusual features ."

" 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 I left the curtains partly open . his figure was framed in_this gap . the window 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 I seen a man so white .I reckon ghosts may look like that; but his eyes met mine, and_they were the eyes of aliving man . he sprang back when he_saw that i_was looking at him, and he vanished into_the darkness .

" there_was something shocking about_the man, Mr Holmes . it wasn't merely that ghastly face glimmering as white as cheese in_the darkness . it_was more subtle than that -- something slinking, something furtive, something guilty -- something very unlike the frank, manly lad that I had known . it left afeeling of horror in my mind .

" but when a man has_been soldiering for a year or two with brother Boer as a playmate, he keeps his nerve and acts quickly . Godfrey had hardly vanished before i_was at_the window . there_was an awkward catch, and i_was some little time before I_could throw it up . then I nipped through and ran down the garden path in_the direction that i_thought he_might_have taken .

" it_was a long path and_the light was not very_good, but it seemed to_me something was moving ahead of me .I ran on and called his name, but it_was no use . when I got to_the end of_the path there were several others branching in different directions to various outhouses .I stood hesitating, and as I_did so I heard distinctly the sound of aclosing door . it_was not behind 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 behind him . of_that i_was certain .

" there_was nothing more I_could do, and I spent an uneasy night turning the matter over in my mind and trying to_find some theory which would cover the facts . next_day I_found the colonel rather more conciliatory, and as his wife remarked that there were some places of interest in_the neighbourhood, it gave_me an opening to ask whether my presence for_one more night would incommode them .a somewhat grudging acquiescence from_the old man gave_me a clear day in_which to_make my observations . i_was already perfectly convinced that Godfrey was 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 hid away in_it and no one the wiser . if_the secret lay there it_was difficult for_me to penetrate it . but the door which I had heard close was certainly not in_the house . I_must explore the garden and_see what I_could find . there_was no difficulty in_the way, for_the old people were busy in their own fashion and left me to my own devices .

" there were several small outhouses, but at_the end of_the garden there_was 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_that shutting door had come ? I approached it in a careless fashion as_though I were 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 gardener type -- came out_of_the door . to my surprise, he locked it after him and put the key in_his pocket . then he looked at me with some surprise on_his face .

" ' 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_have so liked to_see me,' I continued .

" ' quite so . exactly,' said he with a rather guilty air .' no_doubt you_will renew your visit at some more propitious time .' he passed on, but when I turned I observed that he_was standing watching me, half- concealed 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 windows were heavily curtained, and, so_far as one could_see, it_was empty . I_might spoil my own game and even be ordered off the premises if I were too audacious, for i_was still conscious that i_was being watched . therefore, I strolled back to_the house and waited for night before I went on with my inquiry . when all was dark and quiet I slipped out of_my window and made my way as silently as possible to_the mysterious lodge .

" I_have said that_it_was heavily curtained, but now I_found that_the windows were shuttered as_well . some light, however, was breaking through one_of_them, so I concentrated my attention upon_this . i_was in luck, for_the curtain had_not_been quite closed, and there_was a crack in_the shutter, so_that I could_see the inside of_the room . it_was a cheery place enough, a bright lamp and ablazing fire . opposite to_me was seated the little man whom I had seen in_the morning . he_was smoking a pipe and 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_that smaller type which one associates with weeklies ."

" now that you mention it, it_was not large . it might_have_been the spectator . however, I had little thought to spare upon_such details, for a second man was seated with_his back to_the window, and I_could swear that_this second man was Godfrey .I could_not_see his face, but I_knew the familiar slope of_his shoulders . he_was leaning upon his elbow in an attitude of great melancholy, his body turned towards the fire . i_was hesitating as_to what i_should do when there_was a sharp tap on my shoulder, and there_was colonel Emsworth beside me .

" ' this_way, sir ! ' said he in a low voice . he walked in silence to_the house, and I followed him into my own bedroom . he had picked up a time- table in_the hall .

" there_is a train to London at 8:30,' said he .' the trap will_be at_the door at eight .'

" he_was white with rage, and, indeed, I_felt myself in so difficult a position that I_could only stammer out a few incoherent apologies in_which I tried to excuse myself by urging my anxiety for_my friend .

" ' the matter will not bear discussion,' said he abruptly .' you have_made a most damnable intrusion into_the privacy of_our family . you were here 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 of your own you_are concealing him from_the world . I_have no idea what your motives are in cutting him off in_this fashion, but I_am_sure that he_is no longer a free agent .I warn you, colonel Emsworth, that until I_am assured as_to_the safety and well- being of_my friend I_shall never desist in my efforts to_get to_the bottom of_the mystery, and I_shall certainly not allow myself to_be intimidated by anything which you_may say or do .'

" the old fellow looked diabolical, and I really thought he_was about to attack me . I_have said that he_was agaunt, fierce old giant, and though I_am no weakling I might_have_been hard put to_it to hold my own against him . however, after a long glare of rage he turned upon his heel and walked out_of_the room . for_my part, i_took the appointed train in_the morning, with_the full intention of coming straight to_you and asking for your advice and assistance at_the appointment for_which I had already written ."

such was_the problem which my visitor laid before me . it presented, as_the astute reader will_have already perceived, few difficulties in its solution, for a very limited choice of alternatives must get to_the root of_the matter . still, elementary as it_was, there were points of interest and novelty about_it which_may excuse my placing it upon record .I now proceeded, 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 was conveyed from_the one house to_the other ? "

" now that you mention it, I_did see old Ralph carrying a basket down the garden walk and going in_the direction of_this house . the idea of food did_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 in_the village .I simply asked if_they knew anything of_my old comrade, Godfrey Emsworth . both of_them assured me that he had gone for a voyage round the world . he had come home and then had almost at once started off again . the story was evidently universally accepted ."

" you said nothing of your suspicions ? "

" nothing ."

" that was very wise . the matter should certainly be inquired into . 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 my friend Watson has described as_that of_the abbey school, in_which_the duke of Greyminster was so deeply involved .I had also a commission from_the sultan of turkey which called for immediate action, as political consequences of_the gravest kind might arise from its neglect . therefore it_was not until the beginning of_the next week, as my diary records, that i_was able to start forth on my mission to Bedfordshire in company with Mr James M .Dodd . as_we drove to Eustonn we picked up a grave and tacitum gentleman of iron- gray aspect, with_whom I had made the necessary arrangements .

" this_is an old friend," said I to Dodd ." it_is possible that his presence may_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_the fact that I_do_not waste words or disclose my thoughts while a case is actually under consideration .Dodd seemed surprised, but nothing more was said, and_the three of us continued our journey together . in_the train I asked 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 the glass . 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 pressed against 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 small incident needed to round it off . when, after a considerable drive, we arrived at_the strange old rambling house which my client had described, it_was Ralph, the elderly butler, who opened the door .I had requisitioned the carriage for_the day and had asked my elderly friend to remain within it unless we_should summon him .Ralph, a little wrinkled old fellow, was in_the conventional costume of black coat and pepper- and- salt trousers, with only_one curious variant . he wore brown leather gloves, which at sight of us he instantly shuffled off, laying them down on_the hall- table as_we passed in . I_have, as my friend Watson may_have remarked, an abnormally acute set of senses, and a faint but incisive scent was apparent . it seemed to centre on_the hall table .I turned, placed my hat there, knocked it off, stooped to pick it up, and contrived to bring my nose within a foot of_the gloves . yes, it_was undoubtedly from_them that_the curious tarry odour was oozing .I passed on into_the study with my case complete . alas, that I, that I,s agohave to show my hand so when I tell my own story ! it_was by concealing such links in_the chain that Watson was enabled to_produce his meretricious finales .

colonel Emsworth was not in_his room, but he_came quickly enough on receipt of Ralph's message . we heard his quick, heavy step in_the passage . the door was flung open and he rushed in with bristling beard and twisted features, as terrible an old man as ever I_have_seen . he held our 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 off the premises ? never dare to show your damned face here again . if_you enter 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, "I extend the same warning to_you . I_am familiar with your ignoble profession, but you_must take your reputed talents

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