Chapter 10. Extract from the Diary of Dr. Watson

rinitialswereL.L.” “Howdoyouknowthis,Barrymore?” “Well,SirHenry,yourunclehadaletterthatmorning.Hehadusuallyagreatmanyletters,forhewasapublicmanandwellknownforhiskindheart,sothateveryonewhowasintroublewasgladtoturntohim.Butthatmorning,asitchanced,therewasonlythisoneletter,soItookthemorenoticeofit.ItwasfromCoombeTracey,anditwasaddressedinawoman’shand.” “Well?” “Well,sir,Ithoughtnomoreofthematter,andneverwouldhavedonehaditnotbeenformywife.OnlyafewweeksagoshewascleaningoutSirCharles’sstudy—ithadneverbeentouchedsincehisdeath—andshefoundtheashesofaburnedletterinthebackofthegrate.Thegreaterpartofitwascharredtopieces,butonelittleslip,theendofapage,hungtogether,andthewritingcouldstillberead,thoughitwasgreyonablackground.Itseemedtoustobeapostscriptattheendoftheletteranditsaid:‘Please,please,asyouareagentleman,burnthisletter,andbeatthegatebytenoclock.BeneathitweresignedtheinitialsL.L.” “Haveyougotthatslip?” “No,sir,itcrumbledalltobitsafterwemovedit.” “HadSirCharlesreceivedanyotherlettersinthesamewriting?” “Well,sir,Itooknoparticularnoticeofhisletters.Ishouldnothavenoticedthisone,onlyithappenedtocomealone.” “AndyouhavenoideawhoL.L.is?” “No,sir.Nomorethanyouhave.ButIexpectifwecouldlayourhandsuponthatladyweshouldknowmoreaboutSirCharles’sdeath.” “Icannotunderstand,Barrymore,howyoucametoconcealthisimportantinformation.” “Well,sir,itwasimmediatelyafterthatourowntroublecametous.Andthenagain,sir,wewerebothofusveryfondofSirCharles,aswewellmightbeconsideringallthathehasdoneforus.Torakethisupcouldn’thelpourpoormaster,andit’swelltogocarefullywhenthere’saladyinthecase.Eventhebestofus—” “Youthoughtitmightinjurehisreputation?” “Well,sir,Ithoughtnogoodcouldcomeofit.Butnowyouhavebeenkindtous,andIfeelasifitwouldbetreatingyouunfairlynottotellyouallthatIknowaboutthematter.” “Verygood,Barrymoreyoucango.”WhenthebutlerhadleftusSirHenryturnedtome.“Well,Watson,whatdoyouthinkofthisnewlight?” “Itseemstoleavethedarknessratherblackerthanbefore.” “SoIthink.ButifwecanonlytraceL.L.itshouldclearupthewholebusiness.Wehavegainedthatmuch.Weknowthatthereissomeonewhohasthefactsifwecanonlyfindher.Whatdoyouthinkweshoulddo?” “LetHolmesknowallaboutitatonce.Itwillgivehimtheclueforwhichhehasbeenseeking.Iammuchmistakenifitdoesnotbringhimdown.” Iwentatoncetomyroomanddrewupmyreportofthemorning’sconversationforHolmes.Itwasevidenttomethathehadbeenverybusyoflate,forthenoteswhichIhadfromBakerStreetwerefewandshort,withnocommentsupontheinformationwhichIhadsuppliedandhardlyanyreferencetomymission.Nodoubthisblackmailingcaseisabsorbingallhisfaculties.Andyetthisnewfactormustsurelyarresthisattentionandrenewhisinterest.Iwishthathewerehere. October17th.—Alldaytodaytherainpoureddown,rustlingontheivyanddrippingfromtheeaves.Ithoughtoftheconvictoutuponthebleak,cold,shelterlessmoor.Poordevil!Whateverhiscrimes,hehassufferedsomethingtoatoneforthem.AndthenIthoughtofthatotherone—thefaceinthecab,thefigureagainstthemoon.Washealsooutinthatdeluged—theunseenwatcher,themanofdarkness?IntheeveningIputonmywaterproofandIwalkedfaruponthesoddenmoor,fullofdarkimaginings,therainbeatingupo