But there was a delay in that answering telegram, and two days
of impatience followed, during which Holmes pricked up his ears
at every ring of the bell. On the evening of the second there
came a letter from Hilton Cubitt. All was quiet with him,
save that a long inscription had appeared that morning upon the
pedestal of the sun-dial. He inclosed a copy of it, which is
here reproduced:--
GRAPHIC
Holmes bent over this grotesque frieze for some minutes,
and then suddenly sprang to his feet with an exclamation
of surprise and dismay. His face was haggard with anxiety.
"We have let this affair go far enough," said he.
"Is there a train to North Walsham to-night?"
I turned up the time-table. The last had just gone.
"Then we shall breakfast early and take the very first in the
morning," said Holmes. "Our presence is most urgently needed.
Ah! here is our expected cablegram. One moment, Mrs. Hudson;
there may be an answer. No, that is quite as I expected.
This message makes it even more essential that we should not
lose an hour in letting Hilton Cubitt know how matters stand,
for it is a singular and a dangerous web in which our simple
Norfolk squire is entangled.
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