"
"How can you possibly tell?"
"By an inspection of the trains and by reckoning the time.
The local police had to be called in, they had to communicate
with Scotland Yard, Hopkins had to go out, and he in turn had
to send for me. All that makes a fair night's work.
Well, here we are at Chislehurst Station, and we shall soon
set our doubts at rest."
A drive of a couple of miles through narrow country lanes
brought us to a park gate, which was opened for us by an old
lodge-keeper, whose haggard face bore the reflection of some
great disaster. The avenue ran through a noble park, between
lines of ancient elms, and ended in a low, widespread house,
pillared in front after the fashion of Palladio. The central
part was evidently of a great age and shrouded in ivy, but the
large windows showed that modern changes had been carried out,
and one wing of the house appeared to be entirely new.
The youthful figure and alert, eager face of Inspector Stanley
Hopkins confronted us in the open doorway.
"I'm very glad you have come, Mr. Holmes. And you too,
Dr. Watson! But, indeed, if I had my time over again I
should not have troubled you, for since the lady has come to
herself she has given so clear an account of the affair that
there is not much left for us to do.
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