anger,Irusheddownandhurriedacross,determinedtoendthematteronceandforever.Isawmywifeandthemaidhurryingbackalongthelane,butIdidnotstoptospeakwiththem.Inthecottagelaythesecretwhichwascastingashadowovermylife.Ivowedthat,comewhatmight,itshouldbeasecretnolonger.IdidnotevenknockwhenIreachedit,butturnedthehandleandrushedintothepassage.
“Itwasallstillandquietuponthegroundfloor.Inthekitchenakettlewassingingonthefire,andalargeblackcatlaycoiledupinthebasketbuttherewasnosignofthewomanwhomIhadseenbefore.Iranintotheotherroom,butitwasequallydeserted.ThenIrushedupthestairs,onlytofindtwootherroomsemptyanddesertedatthetop.Therewasnooneatallinthewholehouse.Thefurnitureandpictureswereofthemostcommonandvulgardescription,saveintheonechamberatthewindowofwhichIhadseenthestrangeface.Thatwascomfortableandelegant,andallmysuspicionsroseintoafiercebitterflamewhenIsawthatonthemantelpiecestoodacopyofafull-lengthphotographofmywife,whichhadbeentakenatmyrequestonlythreemonthsago.
“Istayedlongenoughtomakecertainthatthehousewasabsolutelyempty.ThenIleftit,feelingaweightatmyheartsuchasIhadneverhadbefore.MywifecameoutintothehallasIenteredmyhousebutIwastoohurtandangrytospeakwithher,andpushingpasther,Imademywayintomystudy.Shefollowedme,however,beforeIcouldclosethedoor.
“‘IamsorrythatIbrokemypromise,Jack,’saidshe‘butifyouknewallthecircumstancesIamsurethatyouwouldforgiveme.’
“‘Tellmeeverything,then,’saidI.
“‘Icannot,Jack,Icannot,’shecried.
“‘Untilyoutellmewhoitisthathasbeenlivinginthatcottage,andwhoitistowhomyouhavegiventhatphotograph,therecanneverbeanyconfidencebetweenus,’saidI,andbreakingawayfromher,Ileftthehouse.Thatwasyesterday,Mr.Holmes,andIhavenotseenhersince,nordoIknowanythingmoreaboutthisstrangebusiness.Itisthefirstshadowthathascomebetweenus,andithassoshakenmethatIdonotknowwhatIshoulddoforthebest.Suddenlythismorningitoccurredtomethatyouwerethemantoadviseme,soIhavehurriedtoyounow,andIplacemyselfunreservedlyinyourhands.IfthereisanypointwhichIhavenotmadeclear,prayquestionmeaboutit.But,aboveall,tellmequicklywhatIamtodo,forthismiseryismorethanIcanbear.”
HolmesandIhadlistenedwiththeutmostinteresttothisextraordinarystatement,whichhadbeendeliveredinthejerky,brokenfashionofamanwhoisundertheinfluenceofextremeemotions.Mycompanionsatsilentforsometime,withhischinuponhishand,lostinthought.
“Tellme,”saidheatlast,“couldyouswearthatthiswasaman’sfacewhichyousawatthewindow?”
“EachtimethatIsawitIwassomedistanceawayfromit,sothatitisimpossibleformetosay.”
“Youappear,however,tohavebeendisagreeablyimpressedbyit.”
“Itseemedtobeofanunnaturalcolour,andtohaveastrangerigidityaboutthefeatures.WhenIapproached,itvanishedwithajerk.”
“Howlongisitsinceyourwifeaskedyouforahundredpounds?”
“Nearlytwomonths.”
“Haveyoueverseenaphotographofherfirsthusband?”
“NotherewasagreatfireatAtlantaveryshortlyafterhisdeath,andallherpapersweredestroyed.”
“Andyetshehadacertificateofdeath.Yousaythatyousawit.”
“Yesshegotaduplicateafterthefire.”
“DidyouevermeetanyonewhoknewherinAmerica?”
“No.”
“Didsheevertalkofrevisitingtheplace?”
“No.”
“Orgetlettersfromit?”
“No.”
“Thankyou.Ishouldliketothinkoverthematteralittlenow.Ifthecottageisnowpermanentlydesertedwemayhavesomedif