? ? ? ? " 'I cannot, Jack, I cannot,' she cried.
? ? ? ? " 'Until you tell me who it is that has been living in that cottage, and who it is to whom you have given that photograph, there can never be any confidence between us,' said I, and breaking away from her I left the house. That was yesterday, Mr. Holmes, and I have not seen her since, nor do I know anything more about this strange business. It is the first shadow that has come between us, and it has so shaken me that I do not know what I should do for the best. Suddenly this morning it occurred to me that you were the man to advise me, so I have hurried to you now, and I place myself unreservedly in your hands. If there is any point which I have not made clear, pray question me about it. But, above all, tell me quickly what I am to do. for this misery is more than I can bear."
? ? ? ? Holmes and I had listened with the utmost interest to this extraordinary statement, which had been delivered in the jerky, broken fashion of a man who is under the influence of extreme emotion. My companion sat silent now for some time, with his chin upon his hand, lost in thought.
? ? ? ? "Tell me," said he at last, "could you swear that this was a man's face which you saw at the window?"
? ? ? ? "Each time that I saw it I was some distance away from it so that it is impossible for me to say.
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