t he stopped also. then i laid a trap for

him. there is a sharp turning of the road, and i pedalled

very quickly round this, and then i stopped and waited.

i expected him to shoot round and pass me before he could

stop. but he never appeared. then i went back and looked

round the corner. i could see a mile of road, but he was

not on it. to make it the more extraordinary, there was no

side road at this point down which he could have gone."

holmes chuckled and rubbed his hands. "this case certainly

presents some features of its own," said he. "how much

time elapsed between your turning the corner and your

discovery that the road was clear?"

"two or three minutes."

"then he could not have retreated down the road, and you

say that there are no side roads?"

"none."

"then he certainly took a footpath on one side or the

other."

"it could not have been on the side of the heath or i

should have seen him."

"so by the process of exclusion we arrive at the fact that

he made his way towards charlington hall, which, as i

understand, is situated in its own grounds on one side of

the road. anything else?"

"nothing, mr. holmes, save that i was so perplexed that i

felt i should not be happy until i had seen you and had

your advice."

holmes sat in silence for some little time.

"where is the gentleman to whom you are engaged?" he asked,

at last.

"he is in the midland electrical company, at coventry."

"he would not pay you a surprise visit?"

"oh, mr. holmes! as if i should not know him!"

"have you had any other admirers?"

"several before i knew cyril."

"and since?"

"there was this dreadful man, woodley, if you can call him

an admirer."

"no one else?"

our fair client seemed a little confused.

"who was he?" asked holmes.

"oh, it may be a mere fancy of mine; but it has seemed to

me sometimes that my employer, mr. carruthers, takes a

great deal of interest in me. we are thrown rather

together. i play his accompaniments in the evening.

he has never said anything. he is a perfect gentleman.

but a girl always knows."

"ha!" holmes looked grave. "what does he do for a living?"

"he is a rich man."

"no carriages or horses?"

"well, at least he is fairly well-to-do. but he goes into

the city two or three times a week. he is deeply

interested in south african gold shares."

"you will let me know any fresh development, miss smith.

i am very busy just now, but i will find time to make some

inquiries into your case. in the meantime take no step

without letting me know. good-bye, and i trust that we

shall have nothing but good news from you."

"it is part of the settled order of nature that such a girl

should have followers," said holmes, as he pulled at his

meditative pipe, "but for choice not on bicycles in lonely

country roads. some secretive lover, beyond all doubt.

but there are curious and suggestive details about the

case, watson."

"that he should appear only at that point?"

"exactly. our first effort must be to find who are the

tenants of charlington hall. then, again, how about the

connection between carruthers and woodley, since they

appear to be men of such a different type? how came they

_both_ to be so keen upon looking up ralph smith's

relations? one more point. what sort of a _menage_ {1} is

it which pays double the market price for a governess, but

does not keep a horse although six miles from the station?

odd, watson -- very odd!"

"you will go down?"

"no, my dear fellow, _you_ will go down. this may be some

trifling intrigue, and i cannot break my other important

research for the sake of it. on monday you will arrive

early at farnham; you will conceal yourself near

charlington heath; you will observe these facts for

yourself, and act as your own judgment advises. then,

having inquired as to the occupants of the hall, you will

come back to me and report. and now, watson, not another

word of the matter until we have a few solid stepping-stones

on which we may hope to get across to our solution."

we had ascertained from the lady that she went down upon

the monday by the train which leaves waterloo at 9.50, so i

started early and caught the 9.13. at farnham station i

had no difficulty in being directed to charlington heath.

it was impossible to mistake the scene of the young lady's

adventure, for the road runs between the open heath on one

side and an old yew hedge upon the other, surrounding a

park which is studded with magnificent trees. there was a

main gateway of lichen-studded stone, each side pillar

surmounted by mouldering heraldic emblems; but besides this

central carriage drive i observed several points where

there were gaps in the hedge and paths leading through

them. the house was invisible from the road, but the

surroundings all spoke of gloom and decay.

the heat