that I have a quick eye for faces, Holmes. It was undoubtedly the tall, dark man whom I had addressed in the street. I saw him once more at London Bridge, and then I lost him in the crowd. But I am convinced that he was following me.'
'No doubt! No doubt!' said Holmes. 'A tall, dark, heavily mustached man, you say, with gray-tinted sunglasses?'
'Holmes, you are a wizard. I did not say so, but he had gray-tinted sunglasses'
'And a Masonic tie-pin?'
'Holmes!'
'Quite simple, my dear Watson. But let us get down to what is practical. I must admit to you that the case, which seemed to me to be so absurdly simple as to be hardly worth my notice, is rapidly assuming a very different aspect. It is true that though in your mission you have missed everything of importance, yet even those things which have obtruded themselves upon your notice give rise to serious thought.'
'What have I missed?'
'Don't be hurt, my dear fellow. You know that I am quite impersonal. No one else would have done better. Some possibly not so well. But clearly you have missed some vital points. What is the opinion of the neighbors about this man Amberley and his wife? That surely is of importance. What of Dr. Ernest? Was he the gay Lothario one would expect? With your natural advantages, Watson, every lady is your helper and accomplice. What about the girl at the post-office, or the wife of the greengrocer? I can picture you whispering soft nothings with the young lady at the Blue Anchor, and receiving hard somethings in exchange. All this you have left undone.'
'It can still be done.'
'It has been done. Thanks to the telephone and the help of the Yard, I can usually get my essentials without leaving this room. As a matter of fact, my information confirms the man's story. He has the local repute of being a miser as well as a harsh and exacting husband. That he had a large sum of money in that strong-room of his is certain. So also is it that young Dr. Ernest, an unmarried man, played chess with Amberley, and probably played the fool with his wife. All this seems plain sailing, and one would think that there was no more to be said – and yet! – and yet!'
'Where lies the difficulty?'
'In my imagination, perhaps. Well, leave it there, Watson. Let us escape from this weary workaday world by the side door of music. Carina sings tonight at the Albert Hall, and we still have time to dress, dine, and enjoy.'
In the morning I was up betimes, but some toast crumbs and two empty eggshells told me that my companion was earlier still. I found a scribbled note upon the table.
DEAR WATSON:
There are one or two points of contact which I should
wish to establish with Mr. Josiah Amberley. When I have
done so we can dismiss the case – or not. I would only ask
you to be on hand about three o'clock, as I conceive it
possible that I may want you.
S.H.
I saw nothing of Holmes all day, but at the hour named he returned, grave, preoccupied, and aloof. At such times it was wiser to leave him to himself.
'Has Amberley been here yet?'
'No.'
'Ah! I am expecting him.'
He was not disappointed, for presently the old fellow arrived with a very worried and puzzled expression upon his austere face.
'I've had a telegram, Mr. Holmes. I can make nothing of it.' He handed it over, and Holmes read it aloud.
'Come at once without fail. Can give you information as to your recent loss.
'ELMAN.
'The Vicarage.
'Dispatched at 2:10 from Little Purlington,' said Holmes. 'Little Purlington is in Essex, I believe, not far from Frinton. Well, of course you will start at once. This is evidently from a responsible person, the vicar of the place. Where is my Crockford? Yes, here we have him: 'J. C. Elman, M. A., Living of Moosmoor cum Little Purlington.' Look up the trains, Watson.'
'There is one at 5:20 from Liverpool Street.'
'Excellent. You had best go with him, Watson. He may need help or advice. Clearly we have come to a crisis in this affair.'
But our client seemed by no means eager to start.
'It's perfectly absurd, Mr. Holmes,' he said. 'What can this man possibly know of what has occurred? It is waste of time and money.'
'He would not have telegraphed to you if he did not know something. Wire at once that you are coming.'
'I don't think I shall go.'
Holmes assumed his sternest aspect.
'It would make the worst possible impression both on the police and upon myself, Mr. Amberley, if when so obvious a clue arose you should refuse to follow it up. We should feel that you were not really in earnest in this investigation.'
Our client seemed horrified at the suggestion.
'Why, of course I shall go if you look at it in that way,' said he. 'On the face of it, it seems absurd to suppose that this parson knows anything, but if you think —'
'I do think,' said Holmes with emphasis, and so we were launched upon our journey. Holmes took me aside before we left the room and gave me one word of counsel, which showed that he considered the matter to be of importance. 'Whatever you do, see that he really does go,' said he. 'Should he break away or return, get to the nearest telephone exchange and send the single word 'Bolted.' I will arrange here that it shall reach me wherever I am.'
Little Purlington is not an easy place to reach, for it is on a branch line. My remembrance of the journey is not a pleasant one, for the weather was hot, the train slow, and my companion sullen and silent, hardly talking at all save to make an occasional sardonic remark as to the futility of our proceedings. When we at last reached the little station it was a two-mile drive before we came to the Vicarage, where a big, solemn, rather pompous clergyman received us in his study. Our telegram lay before him.
'Well, gentlemen,' he asked, 'what can I do for you?'
'We came,' I explained, 'in answer to your wire.'
'My wire! I sent no wire.'
'I mean the wire which you sent to Mr. Josiah Amberley about his wife and his money.'
'If this is a joke, sir, it is a very questionable one,' said the vicar angrily. 'I have never heard of the gentleman you name, and I have not sent a wire to anyone.'
Our client and I looked at each other in amazement.
'Perhaps there is some mistake,' said I; 'are there perhaps two vicarages? Here is the wire itself, signed Elman and dated from the Vicarage.'
'There is only one vicarage, sir, and only one vicar, and this wire is a scandalous forgery, the origin of which shall certainly be investigated by the police. Meanwhile, I can see no possible object in prolonging this interview.'
So Mr. Amberley and I found ourselves on the roadside in what seemed to me to be the most primitive village in England. We made for the telegraph office, but it was already closed. There was a telephone, however, at the little Railway Arms, and by it I got into touch with Holmes, who shared in our amazement at the result of our journey.
'Most singular!' said the distant voice. 'Most remarkable! I much fear, my dear Watson, that there is no return train tonight I have unwittingly condemned you to the horrors of a country inn. However, there is always
