"' sorry that I broke my promise, Jack,' said she; 'but if all the circumstances that forgive me '

"'Tell me everything, then,' said I

"' , Jack, ,' she cried

"'Until you tell me who it living cottage, and who given that photograph, there can never be any confidence ,' said I, and breaking away from her, I left the house That was yesterday, Mr Holmes, and seen her since, nor do anything more strange business first shadow that , and it has so shaken me that know what do best Suddenly it occurred that you were the man to advise me, so hurried now, and I place myself unreservedly in your hands any point which made clear, pray question me But, above all, tell me quickly what , misery is more than bear "

Holmes and I had listened utmost interest extraordinary statement, which delivered jerky, broken fashion of man under the influence of extreme emotions My companion sat silent for , chin upon his hand, lost in thought

"Tell me," said he at last, "could you swear was man's face which you saw window ? "

" that it some distance away , so impossible "

"You appear, however, disagreeably impressed "

"It seemed of an unnatural colour, and strange rigidity features When I approached, it vanished with jerk "

"How long since your wife asked you for hundred pounds ? "

"Nearly two months "

" ever seen photograph of her first husband ? "

"No; great fire at Atlanta very shortly after his death, and all her papers were destroyed "

"And yet she had certificate of death You say that you saw it "

"Yes; she got duplicate fire "

"Did you ever meet who knew her in America ? "

"No "

"Did she ever talk of revisiting the place ? "

"No "

"Or get letters ? "

"No "

" like over the matter little now cottage is now permanently deserted some difficulty If, other hand, as I fancy is more likely, the inmates were warned of you coming, and left entered yesterday, then back now, and clear it all up easily Let me advise you, then, to return to Norbury, and to examine the windows cottage again reason inhabited, force your way in, but send wire to my friend and me within an hour of receiving it, and then get bottom business "

"And still empty ? "

" case come out to-morrow and talk it over Good-by; and, above all, fret until that you really have cause "

" afraid bad business, Watson," said my companion, as he returned after accompanying Mr Grant Munro door "What make of it ? "

"It had an ugly sound," I answered

"Yes There's blackmail , or much mistaken "

"And the blackmailer ? "

"Well, it the creature who lives only comfortable room place, and has her photograph above his fireplace Upon my word, Watson, something very attractive livid face window, and have missed the case for worlds "

" theory ? "

"Yes, provisional one But surprised turn out correct This woman's first husband is cottage "

"Why so ? "

"How else can we explain her frenzied anxiety that her second one enter it ? The facts, as them, are something like this: This woman was married in America Her husband developed some hateful qualities; or shall we say that he contracted some loathsome disease, and became leper or an imbecile ? She flies at last, returns to England, changes her name, and starts her life, as she thinks, afresh She married three years, and believes that her position is quite secure, having shown her husband the death certificate of some man whose name she has assumed, when suddenly her whereabouts is discovered by her first husband; or, suppose, by some unscrupulous woman who has attached herself invalid They write wife, and threaten and expose her She asks for hundred pounds, and endeavours them off of it, and husband mentions casually wife that there new-comers cottage, she knows in some way her pursuers She waits until her husband is asleep, and then she rushes down to endeavour them to leave her in peace Having no success, she goes again next morning, and her husband meets her, as he has told us, as she comes out She promises him then not there again, but two days afterwards the hope of getting rid dreadful neighbours was too strong for her, and she made another attempt, taking down with her the photograph which had probably been demanded from her midst interview the maid rushed in master had come home, the wife, knowing that come straight down cottage, hurried the inmates out back door, grove of fir-trees, probably, mentioned as standing near the place deserted surprised, however, still so when he reconnoitres it this evening What theory ? "

" all surmise "

"But it covers all the facts When new facts come to our knowledge which covered , time enough to reconsider it do nothing more until message friend at Norbury "

But we very to wait It came just had finished our tea "The cottage is still tenanted," it said "Have seen the face again window Will meet the seven o'clock train, and will take no steps until you arrive "

waiting platform when we stepped out, and we light station lamps that very pale, and quivering with agitation

" still there, Mr Holmes," said he, laying his hand hard upon my friend's sleeve " lights cottage as down settle it now once and for all "

" your plan, then ? " asked Holmes, as he walked down the dark tree-lined road

" going to force my way in house you both there as witnesses "

" quite determined to , of your wife's warning better that solve the mystery ? "

"Yes, determined "

"Well, that right Any truth is better than indefinite doubt We had better go up at once , legally, putting ourselves hopelessly wrong; but worth it "

very dark night, and thin rain began turned high road into narrow lane, deeply rutted, with hedges on either side Mr Grant Munro pushed impatiently forward, however, and we stumbled after him as best