〃Securities！ How could they dispose of those？〃
〃He said that he had given the police a list and that he hoped
they would be unsaleable。 He had got back from the theatre about
midnight and found the place plundered； the door and window open；
and the fugitives gone。 There was no letter or message； nor has he
heard a word since。 He at once gave the alarm to the police。〃
Holmes brooded for some minutes。
〃You say he was painting。 What was he painting？〃
〃Well； he was painting the passage。 But he had already painted the
floor and woodwork of this room I spoke of。〃
〃Does it not strike you as a strange occupation in the
circumstances？〃
〃'One must do something to ease an aching heart。' That was his own
explanation。 It was eccentric； no doubt； but he is clearly an
eccentric man。 He tore up one of his wife's photographs in my
presence… tore it up furiously in a tempest of passion。 'I never
wish to see her damned face again；' he shrieked。〃
〃Anything more； Watson？〃
〃Yes； one thing which struck me more than anything else。 I had
driven to the Blackheath Station and had caught my train there when；
just as it was starting； I saw a man dart into the carriage next to my
own。 You know that I have a quick eye for faces； Holmes。 It was
undoubtedly the tall； dark man whom I had addressed in the street。 I
saw him once more at London Bridge； and then I lost him in the
crowd。 But I am convinced that he was following me。〃
〃No doubt！ No doubt！〃 said Holmes。 〃A tall； dark； heavily moustached
man； you say； with gray…tinted sun…glasses？〃
〃Holmes； you are a wizard。 I did not say so； but he had
gray…tinted sun…glasses。〃
〃And a Masonic tie…pin？〃
〃Holmes！〃
〃Quite simple； my dear Watson。 But let us get down to what is
practical。 I must admit to you that the case； which seemed to me to be
so absurdly simple as to be hardly worth my notice； is rapidly
assuming a very different aspect。 It is true that though in your
mission you have missed everything of importance； yet even those
things which have obtruded themselves upon your notice give rise to
serious thought。〃
〃What have I missed？〃
〃Don't be hurt； my dear fellow。 You know that I am quite impersonal。
No one else would have done better。 Some possibly not so well。 But
clearly you have missed some vital points。 What is the opinion of
the neighbours about this man Amberley and his wife？ That surely is of
importance。 What of Dr。 Ernest？ Was he the gay Lothario one would
expect？ With your natural advantages； Watson； every lady is your
helper and accomplice。 What about the girl at the post…office； or
the wife of the greengrocer？ I can picture you whispering soft
nothings with the young lady at the Blue Anchor； and receiving hard
somethings in exchange。 All this you have left undone。〃
〃It can still be done。〃
〃It has been done。 Thanks to the telephone and the help of the Yard；
I can usually get my essentials without leaving this room。 As a matter
of fact； my information confirms the man's story。 He has the local
repute of being a miser as well as a harsh and exacting husband。
That he had a large sum of money in that strongroom of his is certain。
So also is it that young Dr。 Ernest； an unmarried man； played chess
with Amberley； and probably played the fool with his wife。 All this
seems plain sailing； and one would think that there was no more to
be said… and yet！… and yet！〃
〃Where lies the difficulty？〃
〃In my imagination； perhaps。 Well； leave it there； Watson。 Let us
escape from this weary workaday world by the side door of music。
Carina sings to…night at the Albert Hall； and we still have time to
dress； dine； and enjoy。〃
In the morning I was up betimes； but some toast crumbs and two empty
eggshells told me that my companion was earlier still。 I found a
scribbled note upon the table。
Dear Watson：
There are one or two points of contact which I should wish to
establish with Mr。 Josiah Amberley。 When I have done so we can dismiss
the case… or not。 I would only ask you to be on hand about three
o'clock； as I conceive it possible that I may want you。
S。H。
I saw nothing of Holmes all day； but at the hour named he
returned； grave； preoccupied； and aloof。 At such times it was wiser to
leave him to himself。
〃Has Amberley been here yet？〃
〃No。〃
〃Ah！ I am expecting him。〃
He was not disappointed； for presently the old fellow arrived with a
very worried and puzzled expression upon his austere face。
〃I've had a telegram； Mr。 Holmes。 I can make nothing of it。〃 He
handed it over； and Holmes read it aloud。
〃Come at once without fail。 Can give you information as to your
recent loss。
〃ELMAN。
〃The Vicarage。
〃Dispatched at 2：10 from Little Purlington；〃 said Holmes。 〃Little
Purlington is in Essex； I believe； not far from Frinton。 Well； of
course you will start at once。 This is evidently from a responsible
person； the vicar of the place。 Where is my Crockford？ Yes； here we
have him： J。C。 Elman； M。A。； Living of Moosmoor cum Little Purlington。'
Look up the trains； Watson。〃
〃There is one at 5：20 from Liverpool Street。〃
〃Excellent。 You had best go with him； Watson。 He may need help or
advice。 Clearly we have come to a crisis in this affair。〃
But our client seemed by no means eager to start。
〃It's perfectly absurd； Mr。 Holmes；〃 he said。 〃What can this man
possibly know of what has occurred？ It is waste of time and money。〃
〃He would not have telegraphed to you if he did not know
something。 Wire at once that you are coming。〃
〃I don't think I shall go。〃
Holmes assumed his sternest aspect。
〃It would make the worst possible impression both on the police
and upon myself； Mr。 Amberley； if when so obvious a clue arose you
should refuse to follow it up。 We should feel that you were not really
in earnest in this investigation。〃
Our client seemed horrified at the suggestion。
〃Why； of course I shall go if you look at it in that way；〃 said
he。 〃On the face of it； it seems absurd to suppose that this parson
knows anything； but if you think…〃
〃I do think；〃 said Holmes with emphasis； and so we were launched
upon our journey。 Holmes took me aside before we left the room and
gave me one word of counsel； which showed that he considered the
matter to be of importance。 〃Whatever you do； see that he really
does go；〃 said he。 〃Should he break away or return； get to the nearest
telephone exchange and send the single word 'Bolted。' I will arrange
here that it shall reach me wherever I am。〃
Little Purlington is not an easy place to reach； for it is on a
branch line。 My remembrance of the journey is not a pleasant one；
for the weather was hot； the train slow； and my companion sullen and
silent； hardly talking at all save to make an occasional sardonic
remark as to the futility of our proceedings。 When we at last
reached the little station it was a two…mile drive before we came to
the Vicarage； where a big； solemn； rather pompous clergyman received
us in his study。 Our telegram lay before him。
〃Well； gentlemen；〃 he asked； 〃what can I do for you？〃
〃We came；〃 I explained； 〃in answer to your wire。〃
〃My wire！ I sent no wire。〃
〃I mean the wire which you sent to Mr。 Josiah Amberley about his
wife and his money。〃
〃If this is a joke； sir； it is a very questionable one；〃 said the
vicar angrily。 〃I have never heard of the gentleman you name； and I
have not sent a wire to anyone。〃
Our client and I looked at each other in amazement。
〃Perhaps there is some mistake；〃 said I； 〃are there perhaps two
vicarages？ Here is the wire itself； signed Elman and dated from the
Vicarage。〃
〃There is only one vicarage； sir； and only one vicar； and this
wire is a scandalous forgery； the origin of which shall certainly be
investigated by the police。 Meanwhile； I can see no possible object in
prolonging this interview。〃
So Mr。 Amberley and I found ourselves on the roadside in what seemed
to me to be the most primitive village in England。 We made for the
telegraph office； but it was already closed。 There was a telephone；
however； at the little Railway Arms； and by it I got into touch with
Holmes； who shared in our amazement at the result of our journey。
〃Most singular！〃 said the distant voice。 〃Most remarkable！ I much
fear； my dear Watson； that there is no return train to…night。 I have
unwittingly condemned you to the horrors of a country inn。 However；
there is always Nature； Watson… Nature and Josiah Amberley… you can be
in close commune with both。〃 I heard his dry chuckle as he turned
away。
It was soon apparent to me that my companion's reputation as a miser
was not undeserved。 he had grumbled at the expense of the journey； had
insisted upon travelling third…class； and was now clamorous in his
objections to the hotel bill。 Next morning； when we did at last arrive
in London； it was hard to say which of us was in the worse humour。