astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission which had been

intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was glad, for the fee was at

least tenfold what I should have asked had I set a price upon my own services,

and it was possible that this order might lead to other ones. On the other

hand, the face and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon

me, and I could not think that his explanation of the fuller’s-earth was

sufficient to explain the necessity for my coming at midnight, and his extreme

anxiety lest I should tell anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to

the winds, ate a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having

obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue.


“At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. However,

I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I reached the little dim-lit

station after eleven o’clock. I was the only passenger who got out there,

and there was no one upon the platform save a single sleepy porter with a

lantern. As I passed out through the wicket gate, however, I found my

acquaintance of the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without

a word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door of which was

standing open. He drew up the windows on either side, tapped on the wood-work,

and away we went as fast as the horse could go.”


“One horse?” interjected Holmes.


“Yes, only one.”


“Did you observe the colour?”


“Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the carriage.

It was a chestnut.”


“Tired-looking or fresh?”


“Oh, fresh and glossy.”


“Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue your most

interesting statement.”


“Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Lysander

Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I should think, from the rate