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everything promised well。 Mr。 Carruthers was very kind and very
musical； and we had most pleasant evenings together。 Every week…end
I went home to my mother in town。
〃The first flaw in my happiness was the arrival of the
red…moustached Mr。 Woodley。 He came for a visit of a week； and oh！
it seemed three months to me。 He was a dreadful person… a bully to
everyone else； but to me something infinitely worse。 He made odious
love to me； boasted of his wealth； said that if I married him I
could have the finest diamonds in London； and finally； when I would
have nothing to do with him； he seized me in his arms one day after
dinner… he was hideously strong… and swore that he would not let me go
until I had kissed him。 Mr。 Carruthers came in and tore him from me；
on which he turned upon his own host； knocking him down and cutting
his face open。 That was the end of his visit； as you can imagine。
Mr。 Carruthers apologized to me next day； and assured me that I should
never be exposed to such an insult again。 I have not seen Mr。
Woodley since。
〃And now； Mr。 Holmes； I come at last to the special thing which
has caused me to ask your advice to…day。 You must know that every
Saturday forenoon I ride on my bicycle to Farnham Station； in order to
get the 12：22 to town。 The road from Chiltern Grange is a lonely
one； and at one spot it is particularly so； for it lies for over a
mile between Charlington Heath upon one side and the woods which lie
round Charlington Hall upon the other。 You could not find a more
lonely tract of road anywhere； and it is quite rare to meet so much as
a cart； or a peasant； until you reach the high road near Crooksbury
Hill。 Two weeks ago I was passing this place； when I chanced to look
back over my shoulder； and about two hundred yards behind me I saw a
man； also on a bicycle。 He seemed to be a middle…aged man； with a
short； dark beard。 I looked back before I reached Farnham； but the man
was gone； so I thought no more about it。 But you can imagine how
surprised I was； Mr。 Holmes； when； on my return on the Monday； I saw
the same man on the same stretch of road。 My astonishment was
increased when the incident occurred again； exactly as before； on
the following Saturday and Monday。 He always kept his distance and did
not molest me in any way； but still it certainly was very odd。 I
mentioned it to Mr。 Carruthers； who seemed interested in what I
said； and told me that he had ordered a horse and trap； so that in
future I should not pass over these lonely roads without some
companion。
〃The horse and trap were to have come this week； but for some reason
they were not delivered； and again I had to cycle to the station。 That
was this morning。 You can think that I looked out when I came to
Charlington Heath； and there； sure enough； was the man； exactly as
he had been the two weeks before。 He always kept so far from me that I
could not clearly see his face； but it was certainly someone whom I
did not know。 He was dressed in a dark suit with a cloth cap。 The only
thing about his face that I could clearly see was his dark beard。
To…day I was not alarmed； but I was filled with curiosity； and I
determined to find out who he was and what he wanted。 I slowed down my
machine； but he slowed down his。 Then I stopped altogether； but he
stopped also。 Then I laid a trap for him。 There is a sharp turning
of the road； and I pedalled very quickly round this； and then I
stopped and waited。 I expected him to shoot round and pass me before
he could stop。 But he never appeared。 Then I went back and looked
round the corner。 I could see a mile of road； but he was not on it。 To
make it the more extraordinary； there was no side road at this point
down which he could have gone。〃
Holmes chuckled and rubbed his hands。 〃This case certainly
presents some features of its own；〃 said he。 〃How much time elapsed
between your turning the corner and your discovery that the road was
clear？〃
〃Two or three minutes。〃
〃Then he could not have retreated down the road； and you say that
there are no side roads？〃
〃None。〃
〃Then he certainly took a footpath on one side or the other。〃
〃It could not have been on the side of the heath； or I should have
seen him。〃
〃So； by the process of exclusion； we arrive at the fact that he made
his way toward Charlington Hall； which； as I understand； is situated
in its own grounds on one side of the road。 Anything else？〃
〃Nothing； Mr。 Holmes； save that I was so perplexed that I felt I
should not be happy until I had seen you and had your advice。〃
Holmes sat in silence for some little time。
〃Where is the gentleman to whom you are engaged？〃 he asked at last。
〃He is in the Midland Electrical Company； at Coventry。〃
〃He would not pay you a surprise visit？〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Holmes！ As if I should not know him！〃
〃Have you had any other admirers？〃
〃Several before I knew Cyril。〃
〃And since？〃
〃There was this dreadful man； Woodley； if you can call him an
admirer。〃
〃No one else？〃
Our fair client seemed a little confused。
〃Who was he？〃 asked Holmes。
〃Oh； it may be a mere fancy of mine； but it had seemed to me
sometimes that my employer； Mr。 Carruthers； takes a great deal of
interest in me。 We are thrown rather together。 I play his
accompaniments in the evening。 He has never said anything。 He is a
perfect gentleman。 But a girl always knows。〃
〃Ha！〃 Holmes looked grave。 〃What does he do for a living？〃
〃He is a rich man。〃
〃No carriages or horses？〃
〃Well； at least he is fairly well…to…do。 But he goes into the city
two or three times a week。 He is deeply interested in South African
gold shares。〃
〃You will let me know any fresh development； Miss Smith。 I am very
busy just now； but I will find time to make some inquiries into your
case。 In the meantime； take no step without letting me know。 Good…bye；
and I trust that we shall have nothing but good news from you。〃
〃It is part of the settled order of Nature that such a girl should
have followers；〃 said Holmes； he pulled at his meditative pipe； 〃but
for choice not on bicycles in lonely country roads。 Some secretive
lover； beyond all doubt。 But there are curious and suggestive
details about the case； Watson。〃
〃That he should appear only at that point？〃
〃Exactly。 Our first effort must be to find who are the tenants of
Charlington Hall。 Then； again； how about the connection between
Carruthers and Woodley； since they appear to be men of such a
different type？ How came they both to be so keen upon looking up Ralph
Smith's relations？ One more point。 What sort of a menage is it which
pays double the market price for a governess but does not keep a
horse； although six miles from the station？ Odd； Watson… very odd！〃
〃You will go down？〃
〃No； my dear fellow； you will go down。 This may be some trifling
intrigue； and I cannot break my other important research for the
sake of it。 On Monday you will arrive early at Farnham； you will
conceal yourself near Charlington Heath； you will observe these
facts for yourself； and act as your own judgment