rangesecretsinthisroom,andthatwehavehadthegoodfortunetobringpeacetomanytroubledsouls.Itrustthatwemaydoasmuchforyou.MightIbegyou,astimemayprovetobeofimportance,tofurnishmewiththefactsofyourcasewithoutfurtherdelay?”
Ourvisitoragainpassedhishandoverhisforehead,asifhefounditbitterlyhard.FromeverygestureandexpressionIcouldseethathewasareserved,self-containedman,withadashofprideinhisnature,morelikelytohidehiswoundsthantoexposethem.Thensuddenly,withafiercegestureofhisclosedhand,likeonewhothrowsreservetothewinds,hebegan.
“Thefactsarethese,Mr.Holmes,”saidhe.“Iamamarriedman,andhavebeensoforthreeyears.DuringthattimemywifeandIhavelovedeachotherasfondlyandlivedashappilyasanytwothateverwerejoined.Wehavenothadadifference,notone,inthoughtorwordordeed.Andnow,sincelastMonday,therehassuddenlysprungupabarrierbetweenus,andIfindthatthereissomethinginherlifeandinherthoughtofwhichIknowaslittleasifshewerethewomanwhobrushesbymeinthestreet.Weareestranged,andIwanttoknowwhy.
“NowthereisonethingthatIwanttoimpressuponyoubeforeIgoanyfurther,Mr.Holmes.Effielovesme.Don’tlettherebeanymistakeaboutthat.Shelovesmewithherwholeheartandsoul,andnevermorethannow.Iknowit.Ifeelit.Idon’twanttoargueaboutthat.Amancantelleasilyenoughwhenawomanloveshim.Butthere’sthissecretbetweenus,andwecanneverbethesameuntilitiscleared.”
“Kindlyletmehavethefacts,Mr.Munro,”saidHolmes,withsomeimpatience.
“I’lltellyouwhatIknowaboutEffie’shistory.ShewasawidowwhenImetherfirst,thoughquiteyoung—onlytwenty-five.HernamethenwasMrs.Hebron.ShewentouttoAmericawhenshewasyoung,andlivedinthetownofAtlanta,whereshemarriedthisHebron,whowasalawyerwithagoodpractice.Theyhadonechild,buttheyellowfeverbrokeoutbadlyintheplace,andbothhusbandandchilddiedofit.Ihaveseenhisdeathcertificate.ThissickenedherofAmerica,andshecamebacktolivewithamaidenauntatPinner,inMiddlesex.Imaymentionthatherhusbandhadlefthercomfortablyoff,andthatshehadacapitalofaboutfourthousandfivehundredpounds,whichhadbeensowellinvestedbyhimthatitreturnedanaverageofsevenpercent.ShehadonlybeensixmonthsatPinnerwhenImetherwefellinlovewitheachother,andwemarriedafewweeksafterwards.
“Iamahopmerchantmyself,andasIhaveanincomeofsevenoreighthundred,wefoundourselvescomfortablyoff,andtookaniceeighty-pound-a-yearvillaatNorbury.Ourlittleplacewasverycountrified,consideringthatitissoclosetotown.Wehadaninnandtwohousesalittleaboveus,andasinglecottageattheothersideofthefieldwhichfacesus,andexceptthosetherewerenohousesuntilyougothalfwaytothestation.Mybusinesstookmeintotownatcertainseasons,butinsummerIhadlesstodo,andtheninourcountryhomemywifeandIwerejustashappyascouldbewished.Itellyouthatthereneverwasashadowbetweenusuntilthisaccursedaffairbegan.
“There’sonethingIoughttotellyoubeforeIgofurther.Whenwemarried,mywifemadeoverallherpropertytome—ratheragainstmywill,forIsawhowawkwarditwouldbeifmybusinessaffairswentwrong.However,shewouldhaveitso,anditwasdone.Well,aboutsixweeksagoshecametome.
“‘Jack,’saidshe,‘whenyoutookmymoneyyousaidthatifeverIwantedanyIwastoaskyouforit.’
“‘Certainly,’saidI.‘It’sallyourown.’
“‘Well,’saidshe,‘Iwantahundredpounds.’
“Iwasabitstaggeredatthis,forIhadimagineditwassimplyanewdressorsomethingofthekindthatshewasafter.
“‘Whatonearthfor?’Iasked.