surprised I was； Mr。 Holmes； when； on my return on the Monday； I saw
the same man on the same stretch of road。 My astonishment was
increased when the incident occurred again； exactly as before； on
the following Saturday and Monday。 He always kept his distance and did
not molest me in any way； but still it certainly was very odd。 I
mentioned it to Mr。 Carruthers； who seemed interested in what I
said； and told me that he had ordered a horse and trap； so that in
future I should not pass over these lonely roads without some
companion。
〃The horse and trap were to have come this week； but for some reason
they were not delivered； and again I had to cycle to the station。 That
was this morning。 You can think that I looked out when I came to
Charlington Heath； and there； sure enough； was the man； exactly as
he had been the two weeks before。 He always kept so far from me that I
could not clearly see his face； but it was certainly someone whom I
did not know。 He was dressed in a dark suit with a cloth cap。 The only
thing about his face that I could clearly see was his dark beard。
To…day I was not alarmed； but I was filled with curiosity； and I
determined to find out who he was and what he wanted。 I slowed down my
machine； but he slowed down his。 Then I stopped altogether； but he
stopped also。 Then I laid a trap for him。 There is a sharp turning
of the road； and I pedalled very quickly round this； and then I
stopped and waited。 I expected him to shoot round and pass me before
he could stop。 But he never appeared。 Then I went back and looked
round the corner。 I could see a mile of road； but he was not on it。 To
make it the more extraordinary； there was no side road at this point
down which he could have gone。〃
Holmes chuckled and rubbed his hands。 〃This case certainly
presents some features of its own；〃 said he。 〃How much time elapsed
between your turning the corner and your discovery that the road was
clear？〃
〃Two or three minutes。〃
〃Then he could not have retreated down the road； and you say that
there are no side roads？〃
〃None。〃
〃Then he certainly took a footpath on one side or the other。〃
〃It could not have been on the side of the heath； or I should have
seen him。〃
〃So； by the process of exclusion； we arrive at the fact that he made
his way toward Charlington Hall； which； as I understand； is situated
in its own grounds on one side of the road。 Anything else？〃
〃Nothing； Mr。 Holmes； save that I was so perplexed that I felt I
should not be happy until I had seen you and had your advice。〃
Holmes sat in silence for some little time。
〃Where is the gentleman to whom you are engaged？〃 he asked at last。
〃He is in the Midland Electrical Company； at Coventry。〃
〃He would not pay you a surprise visit？〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Holmes！ As if I should not know him！〃
〃Have you had any other admirers？〃
〃Several before I knew Cyril。〃
〃And since？〃
〃There was this dreadful man； Woodley； if you can call him an
admirer。〃
〃No one else？〃
Our fair client seemed a little confused。
〃Who was he？〃 asked Holmes。
〃Oh； it may be a mere fancy of mine； but it had seemed to me
sometimes that my employer； Mr。 Carruthers； takes a great deal of
interest in me。 We are thrown rather together。 I play his
accompaniments in the evening。 He has never said anything。 He is a
perfect gentleman。 But a girl always knows。〃
〃Ha！〃 Holmes looked grave。 〃What does he do for a living？〃
〃He is a rich man。〃
〃No carriages or horses？〃
〃Well； at least he is fairly well…to…do。 But he goes into the city
two or three times a week。 He is deeply interested in South African
gold shares。〃
〃You will let me know any fresh development； Miss Smith。 I am very
busy just now； but I will find time to make some inquiries into your
case。 In the meantime； take no step without letting me know。 Good…bye；
and I trust that we shall have nothing but good news from you。〃
〃It is part of the settled order of Nature that such a girl should
have followers；〃 said Holmes； he pulled at his meditative pipe； 〃but
for choice not on bicycles in lonely country roads。 Some secretive
lover； beyond all doubt。 But there are curious and suggestive
details about the case； Watson。〃
〃That he should appear only at that point？〃
〃Exactly。 Our first effort must be to find who are the tenants of
Charlington Hall。 Then； again； how about the connection between
Carruthers and Woodley； since they appear to be men of such a
different type？ How came they both to be so keen upon looking up Ralph
Smith's relations？ One more point。 What sort of a menage is it which
pays double the market price for a governess but does not keep a
horse； although six miles from the station？ Odd； Watson… very odd！〃
〃You will go down？〃
〃No； my dear fellow； you will go down。 This may be some trifling
intrigue； and I cannot break my other important research for the
sake of it。 On Monday you will arrive early at Farnham； you will
conceal yourself near Charlington Heath； you will observe these
facts for yourself； and act as your own judgment advises。 Then； having
inquired as to the occupants of the Hall； you will come back to me and
report。 And now； Watson； not another word of the matter until we
have a few solid steppingstones on which we may hope to get across
to our solution。〃
We had ascertained from the lady that she went down upon the
Monday by the train which leaves Waterloo at 9：50； so I started
early and caught the 9：13。 At Farnham Station I had no difficulty in
being directed to Charlington Heath。 It was impossible to mistake
scene of the young lady's adventure； for the road runs between the
open heath on one side and an old yew hedge upon the other；
surrounding a park which is studded with magnificent trees。 There
was a main gateway of lichen…studded stone； each side pillar
surmounted by mouldering heraldic emblems； but besides this central
carriage drive I observed several points where there were gaps in
the hedge and paths leading through them。 The house was invisible from
the road； but the surroundings all spoke of gloom and decay。
The heath was covered with golden patches of flowering gorse；
gleaming magnificently in the light of the bright spring sunshine。
Behind of these clumps I took up my position； so as to command both
the gateway of the Hall and a long stretch of the road upon either
side。 It had been deserted when I left it； but now I saw a cyclist
riding down it from the opposite direction to that in which I had
come。 He was clad in a dark suit； and I saw that he had a black beard。
On reaching the end of the Charlington grounds； he sprang from his
machine and led it through a gap in the hedge； disappearing from my
view。
A quarter of an hour passed； and then a second cyclist appeared。
This time it was the young lady coming from the station。 I saw her
look about her as she came to the Charlington hedge。 An instant
later the man emerged from his hiding…place； sprang upon his cycle；
and followed her。 In all the broad landscape those were the only
moving figures； the graceful girl sitting very straight upon her
machine； and the man behind her bending low over his handle…bar with a
curiously furtive suggestion in every movement。 She looked back at him
and slowed her pace。 He slowed also。 She stopped。 He at once
stopped； too； keeping two hundred yards behind her。 Her next
movement was as unexpected as it was spirited。 She suddenly whisked
her wheels round and dashed straight at him。 He was as quick as she；
however； and darted off in desperate flight。 Presently she came back
up the road again； her head haughtily in the air； not deigning to take
any further notice of her silent attendant。 He had turned also； and
still kept his distance until the curve of the road hid them from my
sight。
I remained in my hiding…place； and it was well that I did so； for
presently the man reappeared； cycling slowly back。 He turned in at the
Hall gates； and dismounted from his machine。 For some minutes I
could see him standing among the trees。 His hands were raised； and
he seemed to be settling his necktie。 Then he mounted his cycle； and
rode away from me down the drive towards the Hall。 I ran across the
heath and peered through the trees。 Far away I could catch glimpses of
the old gray building with its bristling Tudor chimneys； but the drive
ran through a dense shrubbery； and I saw no more of my man。
However； it seemed to me that I had done a fairly good morning's
work； and I walked back in high spirits to Farnham。 The local house
agent could tell me nothing about Charlington Hall； and referred me to
a well known firm in Pall Mall。 There I halted on my way home； and met
with courtesy from the representative。 No； I could not have
Charlington Hall for the summer。 I was just too late。 It had been
let about a month ago。 Mr。 Williamson was the name of the tenant。 He
was a respectable； elderly gentleman。 The polite agent was afraid he
could say no more； as the affairs of his clients were not matters
which he could discuss。
Mr。 Sherlock Holmes