" 'Well, sir,' said he in rasping voice, ' interested the real reasons visit '

"I answered that I had explained them in my letter wife

" 'Yes, yes, you said that you had known Godfrey in Africa , , only your word '

" ' his letters in my pocket '

" 'Kindly let me see them '

"He glanced two which I handed him, and then he tossed them back

" 'Well, what then ? ' he asked

" ' fond of your son Godfrey, sir Many ties and memories united us not natural that wonder at his sudden silence and should wish what has become of him ? '

" ' some recollections, sir, that I had already corresponded and had told you what had become of him He has gone upon voyage round the world His health was in poor way after his African experiences, and both his mother and I were of opinion that camplete rest and change were needed Kindly pass that explanation on to friends interested matter '

" 'Certainly,' I answered 'But perhaps the goodness to let me have the name steamer and line he sailed, together date that able letter through to him '

"My request seemed both to puzzle and to irritate my host His great eyebrows came down over his eyes, and he tapped his fingers impatiently table He looked up at last expression of one who has seen his adversary make dangerous move at chess, and has decided how to meet it

" 'Many people, Mr Dodd,' said he, 'would take offence at your infernal pertinacity and would think insistence had reached the point of damned impertinence '

" ' put it down, sir, to my real love for your son '

" 'Exactly already made every allowance upon that score , however, to drop these inquiries Every family has its own inner knowledge and its own motives, which cannot always be made clear to outsiders, however well-intentioned My wife is anxious to hear something of Godfrey's past which her, but to let the present future alone Such inquiries serve no useful purpose, sir, and place us in delicate and difficult position '

"So to dead end, Mr Holmes no getting past it only pretend to accept the situation and register vow inwardly that never rest until my friend's fate cleared up dull evening We dined quietly, the three of us, in gloomy, faded old room The lady questioned me eagerly about her son, but the old man seemed morose and depressed so bored whole proceeding that an excuse I decently could and retired to my bedroom large, bare room ground floor, as gloomy rest house, but after year of sleeping veldt, Mr Holmes, one too particular about one's quarters I opened the curtains and looked out garden, remarking fine night with bright half-moon Then I sat down roaring fire lamp on table beside me, and endeavoured to distract my mind with novel interrupted, however, by Ralph, the old butler, who came in with fresh supply of coals

" ' run short night-time, sir bitter weather and these rooms are cold '

"He hesitated before leaving the room, and when I looked round standing facing me with wistful look upon his wrinkled face

" 'Beg your pardon, sir, but help hearing what you said of young Master Godfrey at dinner , sir, that my wife nursed him, and so say his foster-father It's natural take an interest And you say he carried himself well, sir ? '

" ' no braver man regiment He pulled me out once from under the rifles Boers, or maybe I here '

"The old butler rubbed his skinny hands

" 'Yes, sir, yes, Master Godfrey all over always courageous There's not tree park, sir, that he climbed Nothing would stop him fine boy -- and oh, sir, fine man '

"I sprang to my feet

" 'Look here ! ' I cried 'You say You speak he were dead all this mystery ? What has become of Godfrey Emsworth ? '

"I gripped the old man shoulder, but he shrank away

" 'I don't know what you mean, sir master about Master Godfrey to interfere '

" leaving the room, but I held his arm

" 'Listen,' ' going to answer one question leave if to hold you all night Is Godfrey dead ? "

" face my eyes like man hypnotized The answer was dragged lips terrible and unexpected one

" ' to God ! ' he cried, and, tearing himself free he dashed room

" think, Mr Holmes, that I returned to my chair in no very happy state of mind The old man's words seemed to bear interpretation Clearly my poor friend had become involved in some criminal or, least, disreputable transaction which touched the family honour That stern old man had sent his son away and hidden him world lest some scandal should come to light Godfrey was reckless fellow easily influenced around him he had fallen into bad hands and been misled ruin piteous business, indeed so, but even now my duty to hunt him out if aid him anxiously pondering the matter when I looked up, and Godfrey Emsworth standing before me "

My client had paused as one in deep emotion

"Pray continue," "Your problem presents some very unusual features "

" outside the window, Mr Holmes, face pressed against the glass told you that I looked out night When so I left the curtains partly open His figure was framed gap The window came down ground and I the whole length of it, but his face which held my gaze deadly pale -- never have I seen man so white I reckon ghosts may look like that; but his eyes met mine, were the eyes of living man He sprang back when that looking at him, and he vanished darkness

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

"But when man soldiering for year or two with brother Boer as playmate, he keeps his nerve and acts quickly Godfrey had hardly vanished before window an awkward catch, and some little time before throw it up Then I nipped through and ran down the garden path direction that taken

" long path light was not , but it seemed something was moving ahead of me I ran on and called his name, but no use When I got end path there were several others branching in different directions to various outhouses I stood hesitating, and as so I heard distinctly the sound of closing door not behind me house, but ahead of me, somewhere darkness That was enough, Mr Holmes, to assure me that what I had seen was not vision Godfrey had run away from me, and he had shut door behind him certain