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 towards 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.