‘I have some recollections, sir, that I had already correspondedwith you and had told you what had become of him. He has goneupon a voyage round the world. His health was in a poor wayafter his African experiences, and both his mother and I were ofopinion that complete rest and change were needed. Kindly passthat explanation on to any other friends who may be interested inthe matter.’
“ Certainly,’ I answered. ‘But perhaps you would have thegoodness to let me have the name of the steamer and of the lineby which he sailed, together with the date. I have no doubt that Ishould be able to get a letter through to him.’
“My request seemed both to puzzle and to irritate my host. Hisgreat eyebrows came down over his eyes, and he tapped his fingersimpatiently on the table. He looked up at last with the expressionof one who has seen his adversary make a dangerous move atchess, and has decided how to meet it.
“ Many people, Mr. Dodd,’ said he, ‘would take offence at yourinfernal pertinacity and would think that this insistence hadreached the point of damned impertinence.’
“ You must put it down, sir, to my real love for your son.’
“ Exactly. I have already made every allowance upon that score.
I must ask you, however, to drop these inquiries. Every family hasits own inner knowledge and its own motives, which cannot alwaysbe made clear to outsiders, however well-intentioned. My wife isanxious to hear something of Godfrey’s past which you are in aposition to tell her, but I would ask you to let the present and the1260 The Complete Sherlock Holmes
future alone. Such inquiries serve no useful purpose, sir, and placeus in a delicate and difficult position.’
“So I came to a dead end, Mr. Holmes. There was no gettingpast it. I could only pretend to accept the situation and registervow inwardly that I would never rest until my friend’s fate hadbeen cleared up. It was a dull evening. We dined quietly, the threeof us, in a gloomy, faded old room. The lady questioned me eagerlyabout her son, but the old man seemed morose and depressed. Iwas so bored by the whole proceeding that I made an excuse assoon as I decently could and retired to my bedroom. It was a large,bare room on the ground floor, as gloomy as the rest of the house,but after a year of sleeping upon the veldt, Mr. Holmes, one isnot too particular about one’s quarters. I opened the curtains andlooked out into the garden, remarking that it was a fine night withbright half-moon. Then I sat down by the roaring fire with thelamp on a table beside me, and endeavoured to distract my mindwith a novel. I was interrupted, however, by Ralph, the old butler,who came in with a fresh supply of coals.
“ I thought you might run short in the night-time, sir. It isbitter weather and these rooms are cold.’
“He hesitated before leaving the room, and when I lookedround he was standing facing me with a wistful look upon hiswrinkled face.
“ ‘Beg your pardon, sir, but I could not help hearing what yousaid of young Master Godfrey at dinner. You know, sir, that mywife nursed him, and so I may say I am his foster-father. It’snatural we should take an interest. And you say he carried himselfwell, sir?’
“ There was no braver man in the regiment. He pulled me outonce from under the rifles of the Boers, or maybe I should not behere.’
“The old butler rubbed his skinny hands.
“ Yes, sir, yes, that is Master Godfrey all over. He was alwayscourageous. There’s not a tree in the park, sir, that he has notclimbed. Nothing would stop him. He was a fine boy—and oh, sir, hewas a fine man.’
“I sprang to my feet.
“ Look here!’ I cried. ‘You say he was. You speak as if he were dead.
What is all this mystery? What has become of Godfrey Emsworth?’
“I gripped the old man by the shoulder, but he shrank away.
“ ‘I don’t know what you mean, sir. Ask the master about MasterGodfrey. He knows. It is not for me to interfere.’
“He was leaving the room, but I held his arm“ ‘Listen,’ I said. ‘You are going to answer one question beforeyou leave if I have to hold you all night. Is Godfrey dead?’
The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes 1261
“He could not face my eyes. He was like a man hypnotized Theanswer was dragged from his lips. It was a terrible and unexpectedone.
“ I wish to God he was!’ he cried, and, tearing himself free hedashed from the room.
“You will think, Mr. Holmes, that I returned to my chair in novery happy state of mind. The old man’s words seemed to me tobear only one interpretation. Clearly my poor friend had becomeinvolved in some criminal or, at the least, disreputable transactionwhich touched the family honour. That stern old man had senthis son away and hidden him from the world lest some scandalshould come to light. Godfrey was a reckless fellow. He was easilyinfluenced by those around him. No doubt he had fallen into badhands and been misled to his ruin. It was a piteous business, if itwas indeed so, but even now it was my duty to hunt him out andsee if I could aid him. I was anxiously pondering the matter whenI looked up, and there was Godfrey Emsworth standing beforeme.”
My client had paused as one in deep emotion.
“Pray continue,” I said. “Your problem presents some veryunusual features.”
“He was outside the window, Mr. Holmes, with his face pressedagainst the glass. I have told you that I looked out at the night.
When I did so I left the curtains partly open. His figure wasframed in this gap. The window came down to the ground andI could see the whole length of it, but it was his face which heldmy gaze. He was deadly pale—never have I seen a man so white. Ireckon ghosts may look like that; but his eyes met mine, and theywere the eyes of a living man. He sprang back when he saw that Iwas looking at him, and he vanished into the darkness.
“There was something shocking about the man, Mr. Holmes. Itwasn’t merely that ghastly face glimmering as white as cheese inthe darkness. It was more subtle than that—something slinking,something furtive, something guilty—something very unlike thefrank, manly lad that I had known. It left a feeling of horror in mymind.