Thanks to this lonely cottage and his own discretion, Godfrey has
up to now succeeded. Their secret was known to no one save to me
and to one excellent servant who has at present gone for
assistance to Trumpington. But at last there came a terrible
blow in the shape of dangerous illness to his wife. It was
consumption of the most virulent kind. The poor boy was half
crazed with grief, and yet he had to go to London to play this
match, for he could not get out of it without explanations which
would expose his secret. I tried to cheer him up by a wire, and
he sent me one in reply imploring me to do all I could. This was
the telegram which you appear in some inexplicable way to have
seen. I did not tell him how urgent the danger was, for I knew
that he could do no good here, but I sent the truth to the girl's
father, and he very injudiciously communicated it to Godfrey.
The result was that he came straight away in a state bordering on
frenzy, and has remained in the same state, kneeling at the end
of her bed, until this morning death put an end to her sufferings.
That is all, Mr. Holmes, and I am sure that I can rely upon your
discretion and that of your friend.
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