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
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