"
"I must see the Duke, Mr. Wilder."
"But he is in his room."
"Then I must go to his room."
"I believe he is in his bed."
"I will see him there."
Holmes's cold and inexorable manner showed the secretary that
it was useless to argue with him.
"Very good, Mr. Holmes; I will tell him that you are here."
After half an hour's delay the great nobleman appeared.
His face was more cadaverous than ever, his shoulders had rounded,
and he seemed to me to be an altogether older man than he had been
the morning before. He greeted us with a stately courtesy and seated
himself at his desk, his red beard streaming down on to the table.
"Well, Mr. Holmes?" said he.
But my friend's eyes were fixed upon the secretary, who stood by
his master's chair.
"I think, your Grace, that I could speak more freely in
Mr. Wilder's absence."
The man turned a shade paler and cast a malignant glance at Holmes.
"If your Grace wishes ----"
"Yes, yes; you had better go. Now, Mr. Holmes, what have you to say?"
My friend waited until the door had closed behind the
retreating secretary.
"The fact is, your Grace," said he, "that my colleague,
Dr.
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