Thesefewinquiriesproved，however，tobeamorelengthyproceedingthanHolmeshadimagined，forhedidnotreturntotheinnuntilnearlynineo’clock。Hewaspaleanddejected，stainedwithdust，andexhaustedwithhungerandfatigue。
　　Acoldsupperwasreadyuponthetable，andwhenhisneedsweresatisfiedandhispipealighthewasreadytotakethathalfcomicandwhollyphilosophicviewwhichwasnaturaltohimwhenhisaffairsweregoingawry。Thesoundofcarriagewheelscausedhimtoriseandglanceoutofthewindow。Abroughamandpairofgreysundertheglareofagas—lampstoodbeforethedoctor’sdoor。
　　"It’sbeenoutthreehours，"saidHolmes；"startedathalf—pastsix，andhereitisbackagain。Thatgivesaradiusoftenortwelvemiles，andhedoesitonce，orsometimestwice，aday。"
　　"Nounusualthingforadoctorinpractice。"
　　"ButArmstrongisnotreallyadoctorinpractice。Heisalecturerandaconsultant，buthedoesnotcareforgeneralpractice，whichdistractshimfromhisliterarywork。
　　Why，then，doeshemaketheselongjourneys，whichmustbeexceedinglyirksometohim，andwhoisitthathevisits？"
　　"Hiscoachman————"
　　"MydearWatson，canyoudoubtthatitwastohimthatI
　　firstapplied？Idonotknowwhetheritcamefromhisowninnatedepravityorfromthepromptingsofhismaster，buthewasrudeenoughtosetadogatme。Neitherdognormanlikedthelookofmystick，however，andthematterfellthrough。Relationswerestrainedafterthat，andfurtherinquiriesoutofthequestion。
　　AllthatIhavelearnedIgotfromafriendlynativeintheyardofourowninn。Itwashewhotoldmeofthedoctor’shabitsandofhisdailyjourney。Atthatinstant，togivepointtohiswords，thecarriagecameroundtothedoor。"
　　"Couldyounotfollowit？"
　　"Excellent，Watson！Youarescintillatingthisevening。
　　Theideadidcrossmymind。Thereis，asyoumayhaveobserved，abicycleshopnexttoourinn。IntothisIrushed，engagedabicycle，andwasabletogetstartedbeforethecarriagewasquiteoutofsight。Irapidlyovertookit，andthen，keepingatadiscreetdistanceofahundredyardsorso，Ifolloweditslightsuntilwewereclearofthetown。Wehadgotwelloutonthecountryroadwhenasomewhatmortifyingincidentoccurred。
　　Thecarriagestopped，thedoctoralighted，walkedswiftlybacktowhereIhadalsohalted，andtoldmeinanexcellentsardonicfashionthathefearedtheroadwasnarrow，andthathehopedhiscarriagedidnotimpedethepassageofmybicycle。Nothingcouldhavebeenmoreadmirablethanhiswayofputtingit。Iatoncerodepastthecarriage，and，keepingtothemainroad，Iwentonforafewmiles，andthenhaltedinaconvenientplacetoseeifthecarriagepassed。Therewasnosignofit，however，andsoitbecameevidentthatithadturneddownoneofseveralsideroadswhichIhadobserved。Irodeback，butagainsawnothingofthecarriage，andnow，asyouperceive，ithasreturnedafterme。
　　Ofcourse，IhadattheoutsetnoparticularreasontoconnectthesejourneyswiththedisappearanceofGodfreyStaunton，andwasonlyinclinedtoinvestigatethemonthegeneralgroundsthateverythingwhichconcernsDr。Armstrongisatpresentofinteresttous；but，nowthatIfindhekeepssokeenalook—outuponanyonewhomayfollowhimontheseexcursions，theaffairappearsmoreimportant，andIshallnotbesatisfieduntilIhavemadethematterclear。"
　　"Wecanfollowhimto—morrow。"
　　"Canwe？Itisnotsoeasyasyouseemtothink。YouarenotfamiliarwithCambridgeshirescenery，areyou？Itdoesnotlenditselftoconcealment。AllthiscountrythatIpassedoverto—nightisasflatandcleanasthepalmofyourhand，andthemanwearefollowingisnofool，asheveryclearlyshowedto—night。IhavewiredtoOvertontoletusknowanyfreshLondondevelopmentsatthisaddress，andinthemeantimewecanonlyconcentrateourattentionuponDr。Armstrong，whosenametheobligingyoungladyattheofficeallowedmetoreaduponthecounterfoilofStaunton’surgentmessage。Heknowswheretheyoungmanis——tothatI’llswear——andifheknows，thenitmustbeourownfaultifwecannotmanagetoknowalso。
　　Atpresentitmustbeadmittedthattheoddtrickisinhispossession，and，asyouareaware，Watson，itisnotmyhabittoleavethegameinthatcondition。"
　　Andyetthenextdaybroughtusnonearertothesolutionofthemystery。Anotewashandedinafterbreakfast，whichHolmespassedacrosstomewithasmile。
　　"Sir，"itran，"Icanassureyouthatyouarewastingyourtimeindoggingmymovements。Ihave，asyoudiscoveredlastnight，awindowatthebackofmybrougham，andifyoudesireatwenty—mileridewhichwillleadyoutothespotfromwhichyoustarted，youhaveonlytofollowme。Meanwhile，IcaninformyouthatnospyinguponmecaninanywayhelpMr。GodfreyStaunton，andIamconvincedthatthebestserviceyoucandotothatgentlemanistoreturnatoncetoLondonandtoreporttoyouremployerthatyouareunabletotracehim。YourtimeinCambridgewillcertainlybewasted。
　　"Yoursfaithfully，"LESLIEARMSTRONG。"
　　"Anoutspoken，honestantagonististhedoctor，"saidHolmes。
　　"Well，well，heexcitesmycuriosity，andImustreallyknowmorebeforeIleavehim。"
　　"Hiscarriageisathisdoornow，"saidI。"Thereheissteppingintoit。Isawhimglanceupatourwindowashedidso。
　　SupposeItrymyluckuponthebicycle？"
　　"No，no，mydearWatson！WithallrespectforyournaturalacumenIdonotthinkthatyouarequiteamatchfortheworthydoctor。IthinkthatpossiblyIcanattainourendbysomeindependentexplorationsofmyown。IamafraidthatImustleaveyoutoyourowndevices，astheappearanceofTWOinquiringstrangersuponasleepycountrysidemightexcitemoregossipthanIcarefor。Nodoubtyouwillfindsomesightstoamuseyouinthisvenerablecity，andIhopetobringbackamorefavourablereporttoyoubeforeevening。"
　　Oncemore，however，myfriendwasdestinedtobedisappointed。
　　Hecamebackatnightwearyandunsuccessful。
　　"Ihavehadablankday，Watson。Havinggotthedoctor’sgeneraldirection，IspentthedayinvisitingallthevillagesuponthatsideofCambridge，andcomparingnoteswithpublicansandotherlocalnewsagencies。Ihavecoveredsomeground：
　　Chesterton，Histon，Waterbeach，andOakingtonhaveeachbeenexploredandhaveeachproveddisappointing。ThedailyappearanceofabroughamandpaircouldhardlyhavebeenoverlookedinsuchSleepyHollows。Thedoctorhasscoredoncemore。Isthereatelegramforme？"
　　"Yes；Iopenedit。Hereitis：`AskforPompeyfromJeremyDixon，TrinityCollege。’Idon’tunderstandit。"
　　"Oh，itisclearenough。ItisfromourfriendOverton，andisinanswertoaquestionfromme。I’lljustsendroundanotetoMr。JeremyDixon，andthenIhavenodoubtthatourluckwillturn。Bytheway，isthereanynewsofthematch？"
　　"Yes，thelocaleveningpaperhasanexcellentaccountinitslastedition。Oxfordwonbyagoalandtwotries。Thelastsentencesofthedescriptionsay：`ThedefeatoftheLightBluesmaybeentirelyattributedtotheunfortunateabsenceofthecrackInternational，GodfreyStaunton，whosewantwasfeltateveryinstantofthegame。Thelackofcombinationinthethree—quarterlineandtheirweaknessbothinattackanddefencemorethanneutralizedtheeffortsofaheavyandhard—workingpack。’"
　　"ThenourfriendOverton’sforebodingshavebeenjustified，"
　　saidHolmes。"PersonallyIaminagreementwithDr。Armstrong，andfootballdoesnotcomewithinmyhorizon。Earlytobedto—night，Watson，forIforeseethatto—morrowmaybeaneventfulday。"
　　IwashorrifiedbymyfirstglimpseofHolmesnextmorning，forhesatbythefireholdinghistinyhypodermicsyringe。
　　Iassociatedthatinstrumentwiththesingleweaknessofhisnature，andIfearedtheworstwhenIsawitglitteringinhishand。Helaughedatmyexpressionofdismay，andlaidituponthetable。
　　"No，no，mydearfellow，thereisnocauseforalarm。Itisnotuponthisoccasiontheinstrumentofevil，butitwillratherprovetobethekeywhichwillunlockourmystery。OnthissyringeIbaseallmyhopes。Ihavejustreturnedfromasmallscoutingexpeditionandeverythingisfavourable。Eatagoodbreakfast，Watson，forIproposetogetuponDr。Armstrong’strailto—day，andonceonitIwillnotstopforrestorfooduntilIrunhimtohisburrow。"
　　"Inthatcase，"saidI，"wehadbestcarryourbreakfastwithus，forheismakinganearlystart。Hiscarriageisatthedoor。"
　　"Nevermind。Lethimgo。HewillbecleverifhecandrivewhereIcannotfollowhim。Whenyouhavefinishedcomedownstairswithme，andIwillintroduceyoutoadetectivewhoisaveryeminentspecialistintheworkthatliesbeforeus。"
　　WhenwedescendedIfollowedHolmesintothestableyard，whereheopenedthedoorofaloose—boxandledoutasquat，lop—eared，white—and—tandog，somethingbetweenabeagleandafoxhound。
　　"LetmeintroduceyoutoPompey，"saidhe。"Pompeyistheprideofthelocaldraghounds，noverygreatflier，ashisbuildwillshow，butastaunchhoundonascent。Well，Pompey，youmaynotbefast，butIexpectyouwillbetoofastforacoupleofmiddle—agedLondongentlemen，soIwilltakethelibertyoffasteningthisleatherleashtoyourcollar。Now，boy，comealong，andshowwhatyoucando。"Heledhimacrosstothedoctor’sdoor。Thedogsniffedroundforaninstant，andthenwithashrillwhineofexcitementstartedoffdownthestreet，tuggingathisleashinhiseffortstogofaster。Inhalfanhour，wewereclearofthetownandhasteningdownacountryroad。
　　"Whathaveyoudone，Holmes？"Iasked。
　　"Athreadbareandvenerabledevice，butusefuluponoccasion。
　　Iwalkedintothedoctor’syardthismorningandshotmysyringefullofaniseedoverthehindwheel。AdraghoundwillfollowaniseedfromheretoJohno’Groat’s，andourfriendArmstrongwouldhavetodrivethroughtheCambeforehewouldshakePompeyoffhistrail。Oh，thecunningrascal！
　　Thisishowhegavemethesliptheothernight。"
　　Thedoghadsuddenlyturnedoutofthemainroadintoagrass—grownlane。Halfamilefartherthisopenedintoanotherbroadroad，andthetrailturnedhardtotherightinthedirectionofthetown，whichwehadjustquitted。Theroadtookasweeptothesouthofthetownandcontinuedintheoppositedirectiontothatinwhichwestarted。
　　"ThisDETOURhasbeenentirelyforourbenefit，then？"saidHolmes。"Nowonderthatmyinquiriesamongthosevillagesledtonothing。Thedoctorhascertainlyplayedthegameforallitisworth，andonewouldliketoknowthereasonforsuchelaboratedeception。ThisshouldbethevillageofTrumpingtontotherightofus。And，byJove！hereisthebroughamcomingroundthecorner。Quick，Watson，quick，orwearedone！"
　　Hesprangthroughagateintoafield，draggingthereluctantPompeyafterhim。Wehadhardlygotundertheshelterofthehedgewhenthecarriagerattledpast。IcaughtaglimpseofDr。Armstrongwithin，hisshouldersbowed，hisheadsunkonhishands，theveryimageofdistress。Icouldtellbymycompanion’sgraverfacethathealsohadseen。
　　"Ifearthereissomedarkendingtoourquest，"saidhe。
　　"Itcannotbelongbeforeweknowit。Come，Pompey！
　　Ah，itisthecottageinthefield！"
　　Therecouldbenodoubtthatwehadreachedtheendofourjourney。Pompeyranaboutandwhinedeagerlyoutsidethegatewherethemarksofthebrougham’swheelswerestilltobeseen。
　　Afootpathledacrosstothelonelycottage。Holmestiedthedogtothehedge，andwehastenedonwards。Myfriendknockedatthelittlerusticdoor，andknockedagainwithoutresponse。Andyetthecottagewasnotdeserted，foralowsoundcametoourears——
　　akindofdroneofmiseryanddespair，whichwasindescribablymelancholy。Holmespausedirresolute，andthenheglancedbackattheroadwhichwehadjusttraversed。Abroughamwascomingdownit，andtherecouldbenomistakingthosegreyhorses。
　　"ByJove，thedoctoriscomingback！"criedHolmes。"Thatsettlesit。Weareboundtoseewhatitmeansbeforehecomes。"
　　Heopenedthedoorandwesteppedintothehall。Thedroningsoundswelledlouderuponourearsuntilitbecameonelong，deepwailofdistress。Itcamefromupstairs。HolmesdartedupandIfollowedhim。Hepushedopenahalf—closeddoorandwebothstoodappalledatthesightbeforeus。
　　Awoman，youngandbeautiful，waslyingdeaduponthebed。
　　Hercalm，paleface，withdim，wide—openedblueeyes，lookedupwardfromamidagreattangleofgoldenhair。Atthefootofthebed，halfsitting，halfkneeling，hisfaceburiedintheclothes，wasayoungman，whoseframewasrackedbyhissobs。
　　SoabsorbedwashebyhisbittergriefthatheneverlookedupuntilHolmes’shandwasonhisshoulder。
　　"AreyouMr。GodfreyStaunton？"
　　"Yes，yes；Iam——butyouaretoolate。Sheisdead。"
　　Themanwassodazedthathecouldnotbemadetounderstandthatwewereanythingbutdoctorswhohadbeensenttohisassistance。Holmeswasendeavouringtoutterafewwordsofconsolation，andtoexplainthealarmwhichhadbeencausedtohisfriendsbyhissuddendisappearance，whentherewasastepuponthestairs，andtherewastheheavy，stern，questioningfaceofDr。Armstrongatthedoor。
　　"So，gentlemen，"saidhe，"youhaveattainedyourend，andhavecertainlychosenaparticularlydelicatemomentforyourintrusion。Iwouldnotbrawlinthepresenceofdeath，butIcanassureyouthatifIwereayoungermanyourmonstrousconductwouldnotpasswithimpunity。"
　　"Excuseme，Dr。Armstrong，Ithinkwearealittleatcross—purposes，"saidmyfriend，withdignity。"Ifyoucouldstepdownstairswithuswemayeachbeabletogivesomelighttotheotheruponthismiserableaffair。"
　　Aminutelaterthegrimdoctorandourselveswereinthesitting—roombelow。
　　"Well，sir？"saidhe。
　　"Iwishyoutounderstand，inthefirstplace，thatIamnotemployedbyLordMount—James，andthatmysympathiesinthismatterareentirelyagainstthatnobleman。Whenamanislostitismydutytoascertainhisfate，buthavingdonesothematterendssofarasIamconcerned；andsolongasthereisnothingcriminal，Iammuchmoreanxioustohushupprivatescandalsthantogivethempublicity。If，asIimagine，thereisnobreachofthelawinthismatter，youcanabsolutelydependuponmydiscretionandmyco—operationinkeepingthefactsoutofthepapers。"
　　Dr。ArmstrongtookaquickstepforwardandwrungHolmesbythehand。
　　"Youareagoodfellow，"saidhe。"Ihadmisjudgedyou。
　　IthankHeaventhatmycompunctionatleavingpoorStauntonallaloneinthisplightcausedmetoturnmycarriageback，andsotomakeyouracquaintance。Knowingasmuchasyoudo，thesituationisveryeasilyexplained。AyearagoGodfreyStauntonlodgedinLondonforatime，andbecamepassionatelyattachedtohislandlady’sdaughter，whomhemarried。Shewasasgoodasshewasbeautiful，andasintelligentasshewasgood。Nomanneedbeashamedofsuchawife。ButGodfreywastheheirtothiscrabbedoldnobleman，anditwasquitecertainthatthenewsofhismarriagewouldhavebeentheendofhisinheritance。Iknewtheladwell，andIlovedhimforhismanyexcellentqualities。
　　IdidallIcouldtohelphimtokeepthingsstraight。Wedidourverybesttokeepthethingfromeveryone，forwhenoncesuchawhispergetsaboutitisnotlongbeforeeveryonehasheardit。
　　Thankstothislonelycottageandhisowndiscretion，Godfreyhasuptonowsucceeded。TheirsecretwasknowntonoonesavetomeandtooneexcellentservantwhohasatpresentgoneforassistancetoTrumpington。Butatlasttherecameaterribleblowintheshapeofdangerousillnesstohiswife。Itwasconsumptionofthemostvirulentkind。Thepoorboywashalfcrazedwithgrief，andyethehadtogotoLondontoplaythismatch，forhecouldnotgetoutofitwithoutexplanationswhichwouldexposehissecret。Itriedtocheerhimupbyawire，andhesentmeoneinreplyimploringmetodoallIcould。Thiswasthetelegramwhichyouappearinsomeinexplicablewaytohaveseen。Ididnottellhimhowurgentthedangerwas，forIknewthathecoulddonogoodhere，butIsentthetruthtothegirl’sfather，andheveryinjudiciouslycommunicatedittoGodfrey。
　　Theresultwasthathecamestraightawayinastateborderingonfrenzy，andhasremainedinthesamestate，kneelingattheendofherbed，untilthismorningdeathputanendtohersufferings。
　　Thatisall，Mr。Holmes，andIamsurethatIcanrelyuponyourdiscretionandthatofyourfriend。"
　　Holmesgraspedthedoctor’shand。
　　"Come，Watson，"saidhe，andwepassedfromthathouseofgriefintothepalesunlightofthewinterday。
　　XII。———TheAdventureoftheAbbeyGrange。
　　Itwasonabitterlycoldandfrostymorningduringthewinterof’97thatIwasawakenedbyatuggingatmyshoulder。ItwasHolmes。Thecandleinhishandshoneuponhiseager，stoopingfaceandtoldmeataglancethatsomethingwasamiss。
　　"Come，Watson，come！"hecried。"Thegameisafoot。Notaword！
　　Intoyourclothesandcome！"
　　TenminuteslaterwewerebothinacabandrattlingthroughthesilentstreetsonourwaytoCharingCrossStation。Thefirstfaintwinter’sdawnwasbeginningtoappear，andwecoulddimlyseetheoccasionalfigureofanearlyworkmanashepassedus，blurredandindistinctintheopalescentLondonreek。Holmesnestledinsilenceintohisheavycoat，andIwasgladtodothesame，fortheairwasmostbitterandneitherofushadbrokenourfast。Itwasnotuntilwehadconsumedsomehotteaatthestation，andtakenourplacesintheKentishtrain，thatweweresufficientlythawed，hetospeakandItolisten。Holmesdrewanotefromhispocketandreaditaloud：——
　　"AbbeyGrange，Marsham，Kent，"3。30a。m。
　　"MYDEARMR。HOLMES，———Ishouldbeverygladofyourimmediateassistanceinwhatpromisestobeamostremarkablecase。
　　Itissomethingquiteinyourline。ExceptforreleasingtheladyIwillseethateverythingiskeptexactlyasIhavefoundit，butIbegyounottoloseaninstant，asitisdifficulttoleaveSirEustacethere。
　　"Yoursfaithfully，STANLEYHOPKINS。"
　　"Hopkinshascalledmeinseventimes，andoneachoccasionhissummonshasbeenentirelyjustified，"saidHolmes。
　　"Ifancythateveryoneofhiscaseshasfounditswayintoyourcollection，andImustadmit，Watson，thatyouhavesomepowerofselectionwhichatonesformuchwhichIdeploreinyournarratives。Yourfatalhabitoflookingateverythingfromthepointofviewofastoryinsteadofasascientificexercisehasruinedwhatmighthavebeenaninstructiveandevenclassicalseriesofdemonstrations。Yousluroverworkoftheutmostfinesseanddelicacyinordertodwelluponsensationaldetailswhichmayexcite，butcannotpossiblyinstruct，thereader。"
　　"Whydoyounotwritethemyourself？"Isaid，withsomebitterness。
　　"Iwill，mydearWatson，Iwill。AtpresentIam，asyouknow，fairlybusy，butIproposetodevotemydecliningyearstothecompositionofatext—bookwhichshallfocusthewholeartofdetectionintoonevolume。Ourpresentresearchappearstobeacaseofmurder。"
　　"YouthinkthisSirEustaceisdead，then？"
　　"Ishouldsayso。Hopkins’swritingshowsconsiderableagitation，andheisnotanemotionalman。Yes，Igathertherehasbeenviolence，andthatthebodyisleftforourinspection。
　　Ameresuicidewouldnothavecausedhimtosendforme。
　　Astothereleaseofthelady，itwouldappearthatshehasbeenlockedinherroomduringthetragedy。Wearemovinginhighlife，Watson；cracklingpaper，`E。B。’monogram，coat—of—arms，picturesqueaddress。IthinkthatfriendHopkinswillliveuptohisreputationandthatweshallhaveaninterestingmorning。Thecrimewascommittedbeforetwelvelastnight。"
　　"Howcanyoupossiblytell？"
　　"Byaninspectionofthetrainsandbyreckoningthetime。
　　Thelocalpolicehadtobecalledin，theyhadtocommunicatewithScotlandYard，Hopkinshadtogoout，andheinturnhadtosendforme。Allthatmakesafairnight’swork。
　　Well，hereweareatChislehurstStation，andweshallsoonsetourdoubtsatrest。"
　　Adriveofacoupleofmilesthroughnarrowcountrylanesbroughtustoaparkgate，whichwasopenedforusbyanoldlodge—keeper，whosehaggardfaceborethereflectionofsomegreatdisaster。Theavenueranthroughanoblepark，betweenlinesofancientelms，andendedinalow，widespreadhouse，pillaredinfrontafterthefashionofPalladio。Thecentralpartwasevidentlyofagreatageandshroudedinivy，butthelargewindowsshowedthatmodernchangeshadbeencarriedout，andonewingofthehouseappearedtobeentirelynew。
　　Theyouthfulfigureandalert，eagerfaceofInspectorStanleyHopkinsconfrontedusintheopendoorway。
　　"I’mverygladyouhavecome，Mr。Holmes。Andyoutoo，Dr。Watson！But，indeed，ifIhadmytimeoveragainI
　　shouldnothavetroubledyou，forsincetheladyhascometoherselfshehasgivensoclearanaccountoftheaffairthatthereisnotmuchleftforustodo。YourememberthatLewishamgangofburglars？"
　　"What，thethreeRandalls？"
　　"Exactly；thefatherandtwosons。It’stheirwork。
　　Ihavenotadoubtofit。TheydidajobatSydenhamafortnightago，andwereseenanddescribed。Rathercooltodoanothersosoonandsonear，butitisthey，beyondalldoubt。It’sahangingmatterthistime。"
　　"SirEustaceisdead，then？"
　　"Yes；hisheadwasknockedinwithhisownpoker。"
　　"SirEustaceBrackenstall，thedrivertellsme。"
　　"Exactly——oneoftherichestmeninKent。
　　LadyBrackenstallisinthemorning—room。Poorlady，shehashadamostdreadfulexperience。SheseemedhalfdeadwhenIsawherfirst。Ithinkyouhadbestseeherandhearheraccountofthefacts。Thenwewillexaminethedining—roomtogether。"
　　LadyBrackenstallwasnoordinaryperson。SeldomhaveIseensogracefulafigure，sowomanlyapresence，andsobeautifulaface。Shewasablonde，golden—haired，blue—eyed，andwould，nodoubt，havehadtheperfectcomplexionwhichgoeswithsuchcolouringhadnotherrecentexperienceleftherdrawnandhaggard。Hersufferingswerephysicalaswellasmental，foroveroneeyeroseahideous，plum—colouredswelling，whichhermaid，atall，austerewoman，wasbathingassiduouslywithvinegarandwater。Theladylaybackexhausteduponacouch，butherquick，observantgazeasweenteredtheroom，andthealertexpressionofherbeautifulfeatures，showedthatneitherherwitsnorhercouragehadbeenshakenbyherterribleexperience。Shewasenvelopedinaloosedressing—gownofblueandsilver，butablacksequin—covereddinner—dresswashunguponthecouchbesideher。
　　"Ihavetoldyouallthathappened，Mr。Hopkins，"shesaid，wearily；"couldyounotrepeatitforme？Well，ifyouthinkitnecessary，Iwilltellthesegentlemenwhatoccurred。
　　Havetheybeeninthedining—roomyet？"
　　"Ithoughttheyhadbetterhearyourladyship’sstoryfirst。"
　　"Ishallbegladwhenyoucanarrangematters。Itishorribletometothinkofhimstilllyingthere。"Sheshudderedandburiedherfaceinherhands。Asshedidsotheloosegownfellbackfromherforearms。Holmesutteredanexclamation。
　　"Youhaveotherinjuries，madam！Whatisthis？"
　　Twovividredspotsstoodoutononeofthewhite，roundlimbs。
　　Shehastilycoveredit。
　　"Itisnothing。Ithasnoconnectionwiththehideousbusinessoflastnight。IfyouandyourfriendwillsitdownIwilltellyouallIcan。
　　"IamthewifeofSirEustaceBrackenstall。Ihavebeenmarriedaboutayear。Isupposethatitisnousemyattemptingtoconcealthatourmarriagehasnotbeenahappyone。
　　Ifearthatallourneighbourswouldtellyouthat，evenifI
　　weretoattempttodenyit。Perhapsthefaultmaybepartlymine。
　　Iwasbroughtupinthefreer，lessconventionalatmosphereofSouthAustralia，andthisEnglishlife，withitsproprietiesanditsprimness，isnotcongenialtome。Butthemainreasonliesintheonefactwhichisnotorioustoeveryone，andthatisthatSirEustacewasaconfirmeddrunkard。Tobewithsuchamanforanhourisunpleasant。Canyouimaginewhatitmeansforasensitiveandhigh—spiritedwomantobetiedtohimfordayandnight？Itisasacrilege，acrime，avillainytoholdthatsuchamarriageisbinding。Isaythatthesemonstrouslawsofyourswillbringacurseupontheland——Heavenwillnotletsuchwickednessendure。"Foraninstantshesatup，hercheeksflushed，andhereyesblazingfromundertheterriblemarkuponherbrow。
　　Thenthestrong，soothinghandoftheausteremaiddrewherheaddownontothecushion，andthewildangerdiedawayintopassionatesobbing。Atlastshecontinued：——