down again with a shrug of

disappointment. "as you have no doubt frequently

observed, watson, the impression usually goes through

-- a fact which has dissolved many a happy marriage.

however, i can find no trace here. i rejoice,

however, to perceive that he wrote with a

broad-pointed quill pen, and i can hardly doubt that

we will find some impression upon this blotting-pad.

ah, yes, surely this is the very thing!"

he tore off a strip of the blotting-paper and turned

towards us the following hieroglyphic:--

{graphic}

cyril overton was much excited. "hold it to the

glass!" he cried.

"that is unnecessary," said holmes. "the paper is thin,

and the reverse will give the message. here it is."

he turned it over and we read:--

{graphic}

"so that is the tail end of the telegram which godfrey

staunton dispatched within a few hours of his

disappearance. there are at least six words of the

message which have escaped us; but what remains --

'stand by us for god's sake!' -- proves that this

young man saw a formidable danger which approached

him, and from which someone else could protect him.

'_us_,' mark you! another person was involved. who

should it be but the pale-faced, bearded man, who

seemed himself in so nervous a state? what, then, is

the connection between godfrey staunton and the

bearded man? and what is the third source from which

each of them sought for help against pressing danger?

our inquiry has already narrowed down to that."

"we have only to find to whom that telegram is

addressed," i suggested.

"exactly, my dear watson. your reflection, though

profound, had already crossed my mind. but i dare say

it may have come to your notice that if you walk into

a post-office and demand to see the counterfoil of

another man's message there may be some disinclination

on the part of the officials to oblige you. there is

so much red tape in these matters! however, i have no

doubt that with a little delicacy and finesse the end

may be attained. meanwhile, i should like in your

presence, mr. overton, to go through these papers

which have been left upon the table."

there were a number of letters, bills, and note-books,

which holmes turned over and examined with quick,

nervous fingers and darting, penetrating eyes.

"nothing here," he said, at last. "by the way, i

suppose your friend was a healthy young fellow --

nothing amiss with him?"

"sound as a bell."

"have you ever known him ill?"

"not a day. he has been laid up with a hack, and once

he slipped his knee-cap, but that was nothing."

"perhaps he was not so strong as you suppose.

i should think he may have had some secret trouble.

with your assent i will put one or two of these papers

in my pocket, in case they should bear upon our future

inquiry."

"one moment! one moment!" cried a querulous voice, and

we looked up to find a queer little old man, jerking

and twitching in the doorway. he was dressed in rusty

black, with a very broad brimmed top-hat and a loose

white necktie -- the whole effect being that of a very

rustic parson or of an undertaker's mute. yet, in

spite of his shabby and even absurd appearance, his

voice had a sharp crackle, and his manner a quick

intensity which commanded attention.

"who are you, sir, and by what right do you touch this

gentleman's papers?" he asked.

"i am a private detective, and i am endeavouring to

explain his disappearance."

"oh, you are, are you? and who instructed you, eh?"

"this gentleman, mr. staunton's friend, was referred

to me by scotland yard."

"who are you, sir?"

"i am cyril overton."

"then it is you who sent me a telegram. my name is

lord mount-james. i came round as quickly as the

bayswater 'bus would bring me. so you have instructed

a detective?"

"yes, sir."

"and are you prepared to meet the cost?"

"i have no doubt, sir, that my friend godfrey, when we

find him, will be prepared to do that."

"but if he is never found, eh? answer me that!"

"in that case no doubt his family ----"

"nothing of the sort, sir!" screamed the little man.

"don't look to me for a penny -- not a penny! you

understand that, mr. detective! i am all the family

that this young man has got, and i tell you that i am

not responsible. if he has any expectations it is due

to the fact that i have never wasted money, and i do

not propose to begin to do so now. as to those papers

with which you are making so free, i may tell you that

in case there should be anything of any value among

them you will be held strictly to account for what you

do with them."

"very good, sir," said sherlock holmes. "may i ask in

the meanwhile whether you have yourself any theory to

account for this young man's disappearance?"

"no, sir, i have not. he is big enough and old enough

to look after himself, and if he is so f