I had them washed out, and I only mentioned the
matter to my wife afterwards. To my surprise she took it very
seriously, and begged me if any more came to let her see them.
None did come for a week, and then yesterday morning I found
this paper lying on the sun-dial in the garden. I showed it to
Elsie, and down she dropped in a dead faint. Since then she has
looked like a woman in a dream, half dazed, and with terror
always lurking in her eyes. It was then that I wrote and sent
the paper to you, Mr. Holmes. It was not a thing that I could
take to the police, for they would have laughed at me, but you
will tell me what to do. I am not a rich man; but if there is
any danger threatening my little woman I would spend my last
copper to shield her."
He was a fine creature, this man of the old English soil,
simple, straight, and gentle, with his great, earnest blue eyes
and broad, comely face. His love for his wife and his trust in
her shone in his features. Holmes had listened to his story
with the utmost attention, and now he sat for some time in
silent thought.
"Don't you think, Mr. Cubitt," said he, at last, "that your best
plan would be to make a direct appeal to your wife, and to ask
her to share her secret with you?"
Hilton Cubitt shook his massive head.
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