" case," said I, "we had best carry our breakfast , for making an early start His carriage is door "

"Never mind Let him go clever if drive where follow him have finished come downstairs with me, introduce you to detective very eminent specialist work that lies "

When we descended I followed Holmes stable yard, where he opened the door of loose-box and led out squat, lop-eared, white-and-tan dog, something between beagle and foxhound

"Let me introduce you to Pompey," said he "Pompey pride local draghounds, no very great flier, as his build will show, but staunch hound on scent Well, Pompey, not be fast, but I expect too fast for couple of middle-aged London gentlemen, so liberty of fastening this leather leash to your collar Now, boy, come along, and show what do " He led him across doctor's door The dog sniffed round for an instant, and then with shrill whine of excitement started off down the street, tugging at his leash efforts faster In half an hour, we were clear town and hastening down country road

"What done, Holmes ? " I asked

"A threadbare and venerable device, but useful upon occasion I walked doctor's yard and shot my syringe full of aniseed over the hind wheel draghound will follow aniseed from here to John o' Groat's, friend Armstrong to drive Cam before shake Pompey off his trail Oh, the cunning rascal ! how he the slip the other night "

The dog had suddenly turned main road into grass-grown lane Half mile farther this opened into another broad road, trail turned hard right direction town, which we had just quitted The road took sweep south town and continued opposite direction we started

"This DETOUR entirely benefit, then ? " said Holmes "No wonder that my inquiries among those villages led to nothing The doctor has certainly played the game for all worth, and one would like the reason for such elaborate deception This the village of Trumpington right of us And, by Jove ! brougham coming round the corner Quick, Watson, quick, or done ! "

He sprang through gate into field, dragging the reluctant Pompey after him We had hardly got under the shelter hedge carriage rattled past I caught glimpse of Dr Armstrong within, his shoulders bowed, his head sunk hands, the very image of distress tell by my companion's graver face that he also had seen

" some dark ending to our quest," said he "It long before it Come, Pompey ! Ah, cottage field ! "

There that we had reached the end journey Pompey ran about and whined eagerly outside the gate where the marks brougham's wheels were still seen footpath led across lonely cottage Holmes tied the dog hedge, and we hastened onwards My friend knocked little rustic door, and knocked again without response And yet the cottage was not deserted, for low sound came to our ears -- kind of drone of misery and despair, indescribably melancholy Holmes paused irresolute, and then he glanced back road which we had just traversed brougham was coming down it, and there no mistaking those grey horses

"By Jove, the doctor is coming back ! " cried Holmes "That settles it bound what it means before he comes "

He opened the door and we stepped hall The droning sound swelled louder upon our ears until it became one long, deep wail of distress It came from upstairs Holmes darted up and I followed him He pushed open half-closed door and we both stood appalled sight

woman, young and beautiful, was lying dead bed Her calm, pale face, with dim, wide-opened blue eyes, looked upward from amid great tangle of golden hair foot bed, half sitting, half kneeling, his face buried clothes, was young man, whose frame was racked by his sobs So absorbed was he by his bitter grief that he never looked up until Holmes's hand was shoulder

" Mr Godfrey Staunton ? "

"Yes, yes; -- but too late dead "

The man was so dazed that be made to understand that we were anything but doctors who sent assistance Holmes was endeavouring to utter few words of consolation, and to explain the alarm which caused friends by his sudden disappearance, when step stairs, and the heavy, stern, questioning face of Dr Armstrong door

"So, gentlemen," said he, " attained your end, certainly chosen particularly delicate moment for your intrusion brawl presence of death, but assure you that if I were younger man your monstrous conduct pass with impunity "

"Excuse me, Dr Armstrong, little at cross-purposes," said my friend, with dignity " step downstairs each some light other miserable affair "

minute later the grim doctor and ourselves were sitting-room below

"Well, sir ? " said he

" you to understand, first place, that not employed by Lord Mount-James, my sympathies are entirely against that nobleman When man is lost my duty to ascertain his fate, but having done so the matter ends as concerned; and as nothing criminal, much more anxious to hush up private scandals than them publicity If, as I imagine, no breach law , absolutely depend upon my discretion and my co-operation in keeping the facts papers "

Dr Armstrong took quick step forward and wrung Holmes hand

" good fellow," said he "I had misjudged you I thank Heaven that my compunction at leaving poor Staunton all alone plight caused me my carriage back, and so your acquaintance Knowing , the situation is very easily explained year ago Godfrey Staunton lodged in London for time, and became passionately attached landlady's daughter, whom he married She was as good as she was beautiful, and as intelligent as she was good No man need be ashamed wife But Godfrey heir crabbed old nobleman, and quite certain news marriage the end inheritance the lad well, and I loved him many excellent qualities all to help him things straight our very best the thing from everyone, for when once such whisper gets about long before everyone has heard it Thanks lonely cottage own discretion, Godfrey has now succeeded Their secret was known to no one save and to one excellent servant who has at present gone for assistance to Trumpington But at last there came terrible blow shape of dangerous illness wife consumption most virulent kind The poor boy was half crazed with grief, and yet he had to London to play this match, for get out of it without explanations which would expose his secret I tried to cheer him up by wire, and he sent me one in reply imploring me all the telegram which you appear in some inexplicable way seen tell him how urgent the danger was, for that do no good here, but the truth girl's father, and he very injudiciously communicated it to Godfrey The result straight away in state bordering on frenzy, and has remained same state, kneeling end of her bed, until death put an end to her sufferings all, Mr Holmes, and that rely upon your discretion of your friend "

Holmes grasped the doctor's hand