第1章

I

Itwasadulldayatthechancellery。HisExcellencytheAmericanAmbassadorwasabsentinScotland，unveilingabusttoBobbyBurns，paidforbythenumerousloversofthatpoetinPittsburg;theFirstSecretarywasabsentatAldershot，observingashambattle;

theMilitaryAttachewasabsentattheCrystalPalace，watchingafoot—ballmatch;theNavalAttachewasabsentattheDukeofDeptford’s，shootingpheasants;andattheEmbassy，theSecondSecretary，havinglunchedleisurelyattheArtz，wasnowalone，butpreparedwithhislifetoprotectAmericaninterests。Accordingly，ontheconditionthatthestoryshouldnotbetracedbacktohim，hehadjustconfidedaStatesecrettohisyoungfriend，AustinFord，theLondoncorrespondentoftheNewYorkREPUBLIC。

"Iwillcableit，"Fordreassuredhim，"ascomingfromaHungariandiplomat，temporarilyresidinginBloomsbury，whileenroutetohispostinPatagonia。Inthatshape，notevenyourastutechiefwillsuspectitsrealsource。AndfurtherfromthetruththanthatI

refusetogo。"

"WhatIdroppedintoask，"hecontinued，"iswhethertheEnglisharegoingtosendoverapoloteamnextsummertotrytobringbackthecup？"

"I’veseveralotheritemsofinterest，"suggestedtheSecretary。

"Theweek—endpartiestowhichyouhavebeeninvited，"Fordobjected，"canwait。Tellmefirstwhatchancethereisforaninternationalpolomatch。"

"Polo，"sententiouslybegantheSecondSecretary，whohimselfwasacrackerjackatthegame，"isapropositionofponies！Mencanbetrainedforpolo。Butpoloponiesmustbeborn。Withoutgoodponies"

James，thepagewhoguardedtheouterwalls，ofthechancellery，appearedinthedoorway。

"Please，Sir，aperson，"heannounced，withanotefortheAmbassadorsaysit’simportant。"

"Tellhimtoleaveit，saidtheSecretary。"Poloponies"

"Yes，Sir，"interruptedthepage。"But’ewon’tleaveit，notunlesshekeepsthe’arf—crown。"

"ForHeaven’ssake！"protestedtheSecondSecretary，"thenlethimkeepthehalf—crown。WhenIsaypoloponies，Idon’tmean"

James，althoughalarmedathisowntemerity，refusedtoacceptthedismissal。"But，please，Sir，"hebegged;"Ithinkthe’arf—crownisfortheAmbassador。"

Theastonisheddiplomatgazedwithopeneyes。

"Youthink——WHAT！"heexclaimed。

James，uponthedefensive，explainedbreathlessly。

"Because，Sir，"hestammered，"itwasINSIDEthenotewhenitwasthrownoutofthewindow。"

Fordhadbeensprawlinginasoftleatherchairinfrontoftheopenfire。Withtheprivilegeofanoldschool—fellowandcollegeclassmate，hebadbeenjabbingthesoftcoalwithhiswalking—stick，causingittoburstintotinyflames。Hiscigarettedroopedfromhislips，hishatwascockedoveroneeye;hewasapictureofindifference，merginguponboredom。Butatthewordsoftheboyhisattitudebothofmindandbodyunderwentaninstantchange。Itwasasthoughhewereanactor，andthewords"thrownfromthewindow"werehiscue。Itwasasthoughhewereadozingfox—terrier，andthevoiceofhismasterhadwhisperedinhisear:

Sick’em！"

Foramoment，withbenignreproach，theSecondSecretaryregardedtheunhappypage，andthenaddressedhimwithlaborioussarcasm。

"James，"hesaid，"peopledonotcommunicatewithambassadorsinnoteswrappedaroundhalf—crownsandhurledfromwindows。Thatisthewayonecorrespondswithanorgan—grinder。"Fordsprangtohisfeet。

"Andmeanwhile，"heexclaimedangrily，"themanwillgetaway。"

Withoutseekingpermission，heranpastJames，andthroughtheemptyouteroffices。Intwominuteshereturned，herdingbeforehimanindividual，seedyandsoiled。Inappearancethemansuggestedthatinlifehisplacewastosupportasandwich—board。FordreluctantlyrelinquishedhisholduponafoldedpaperwhichhelaidinfrontoftheSecretary。

"Thisman，"heexplained，"pickedthatoutofthegutterinSowellStreet，It’snotaddressedtoanyone，soyoureadit！"

IthoughtitwasfortheAmbassador！"saidtheSecretary。

Thesoiledpersoncougheddeprecatingly，andpointedadirtydigitatthepaper。"Ontheinside，"hesuggested。Thepaperwaswrappedaroundahalf—crownandfoldedinateachend。Thediplomatopenedithesitatingly，buthavingreadwhatwaswritten，laughed。

"There’snothinginTHAT，"heexclaimed。HepassedthenotetoFord。Thereporterfelluponiteagerly。

Thenotewaswritteninpencilonanunruledpieceofwhitepaper。

Thehandwritingwasthatofawoman。WhatFordreadwas:

"Iamaprisonerinthestreetonwhichthispaperisfound。Thehousefaceseast。IthinkIamonthetopstory。Iwasbroughtherethreeweeksago。Theyaretryingtokillme。Myuncle，CharlesRalphPearsall，isdoingthistogetmymoney。HeisatGerridge’sHotelinCravenStreet，Strand。HewilltellyouIaminsane。MynameisDosiaPearsallDale。MyhomeisatDalesville，Kentucky，U。

S。A。Everybodyknowsmethere，andknowsIamnotinsane。IfyouwouldsavealifetakethisatoncetotheAmericanEmbassy，ortoScotlandYard。ForGod’ssake，helpme。"

Whenhehadreadthenote，Fordcontinuetostudyit。Untilhewasquitesurehisvoicewouldnotbetrayhisinterest，hedidnotraisehiseyes。

"Why，"heasked，"didyousaythatthere’snothinginthis？"

"Because，"returnedthediplomatconclusively，"wegotanotelikethat，ornearlylikeit，aweekago，and"

Fordcouldnotrestrainagroan。"Andyounevertoldme！"

"Therewasn’tanythingtotell，"protestedthediplomat。"Wehandeditovertothepolice，andtheyreportedtherewasnothinginit。

Theycouldn’tfindthemanatthathotel，and，ofcourse，theycouldn’tfindthehousewithnomoretogoonthan"

"Andso，"exclaimedFordrudely，"theydecidedtherewasnoman，andnohouse！"

"Theirtheory，"continuedtheSecretarypatiently，"isthatthegirlisconfinedinoneofthenumerousprivatesanatoriumsinSowellStreet，thatsheisinsane，thatbecauseshe’sunderrestraintsheIMAGINESthenursesaretryingtokillherandthatherrelativesareafterhermoney。Insanepeoplearealwaysthinkingthat。It’saverycommondelusion。"

Ford’seyeswereshiningwithawickedjoy。"So，"heaskedindifferently，"youdon’tintendtodoanythingfurther？"

"Whatdoyouwantustodo？"criedhisfriend。"Ringeverydoor—bellinSowellStreetandasktheparlor—maidifthey’remurderingaladyonthetopstory？"

"CanIkeepthepaper？"demandedFord。"Youcankeepacopyofit，"

consentedtheSecretary。"Butifyouthinkyou’reonthetrackofabignewspapersensation，Icantellyounowyou’renot。That’stheworkofacrazywoman，orit’sahoax。Youamateurdetectives"

Fordwasalreadyseatedatthetable，scribblingacopyofthemessage，andmakingmarginalnotes。

"WhobroughttheFIRSTpaper？"heinterrupted。

"Ahansom—cabdriver。"

"WhatbecameofHIM？"snappedtheamateurdetective。

TheSecretarylookedinquiringlyatJames。"Hedroveaway，"saidJames。

"Hedroveaway，didhe？"’roaredFord。"Andthatwasaweekago！Yegods！WhataboutDalesville，Kentucky？Didyoucableanyonethere？"

Thedignityofthediplomatwasbecomingruffled。

"Wedidnot！"heanswered。"Ifitwasn’ttruethatherunclewasatthathotel，itwasprobablyequallyuntruethatshehadfriendsinAmerica。"

"But，"retortedhisfriend，"youdidn’tforgettocabletheStateDepartmentthatyouallwentinyoureveningclothestobowtothenewKing？Youdidn’tneglecttocablethat，didyou？"

"TheStateDepartment，"returnedtheSecretary，withwitheringreproof，"doesnotexpectustocrawlovertheroofsofhousesandspydownchimneystoseeifbyanychanceanAmericancitizenisbeingmurdered。"

"Well，"exclaimedFord，leapingtohisfeetandplacinghisnotesinhispocket，"fortunately，mypaperexpectsmetodojustthat，andifitdidn’t，I’ddoitanyway。AndthatisexactlywhatIamgoingtodonow！Don’ttelltheothersintheEmbassy，and，forHeaven’ssake，don’ttellthepolice。Jimmy，getmeataxi。Andyou，"hecommanded，pointingattheonewhohadbroughtthenote，arecomingwithmetoSowellStreet，toshowmewhereyoupickedupthatpaper。"

OnthewaytoSowellStreetFordstoppedatanewspaperagency，andpaidfortheinsertionthatafternoonofthesameadvertisementinthreenewspapers。Itread:"Ifhansom—cabdriverwholastweekcarriednote，foundinstreet，toAmericanEmbassywillmailhisaddresstoX。X。X。，careofGLOBE，hewillberewarded。"

Fromthenearestpost—officehesenttohispaperthefollowingcable:"Queryourlocalcorrespondent，Dalesville，Kentucky，concerningDosiaPearsallDale。Issheofsoundmind，issheheiress。Whocontrolshermoney，whatherbusinessrelationswithheruncleCharlesRalphPearsall，whatherpresentaddress。Ifanyquestions，sayinquiriescomefromsolicitorsofEnglishmanwhowantstomarryher。Rushanswer。

SowellStreetisadark，dirtylittlethoroughfare，runningforonlyoneblock，paralleltoHarleyStreet。Likeit，itisdecoratedwiththebrassplatesofphysiciansandtheredlampsofsurgeons，but，justasthemedicalmeninHarleyStreet，inkeepingwiththatthoroughfare，arebroad，open，andwithnothingtoconceal，sothoseofSowellStreet，liketheirhiding—place，shrinkfromobservation，andtheirlivesareassombre，secret，anddarkasthestreetitself。

WithintwoturnsofitForddismissedthetaxicab。Givingthesoiledpersonahalf—smokedcigarette，hetoldhimtowalkthroughSowellStreet，andwhenhereachedtheplacewherehehadpickedupthepaper，todropthecigaretteasnearthatspotaspossible。HethenwastoturnintoWeymouthStreetandwaituntilFordjoinedhim。AtadistanceoffiftyfeetFordfollowedtheman，andsawhim，wheninthemiddleoftheblock，withoutapparenthesitation，dropthecigarette。Thehouseinfrontofwhichitfellwasmarked，likemanyothers，bythebrassplateofadoctor。AsFordpassedithehitthecigarettewithhiswalking—stick，anddroveitintoanarea。Whenheovertooktheman，Fordhandedhimanothercigarette。

"Tomakesure，"hesaid，C4gobackand"dropthisintheplaceyoufoundthepaper。Foramomentthemanhesitated。

"Imightaswelltellyou，"Fordcontinued，"thatIknockedthatlastcigarettesofarfromwhereyoudroppeditthatyouwon’tbeabletouseitasaguide。So，ifyoudon’treallyknowwhereyoufoundthepaper，you’llsavemytimebysayingso。"Insteadofbeingconfusedbythetest，themanwasamusedbyit。Helaughedappreciativelyadmitted。"You’vecaughtmeoutfair，governor，""I

Wantthe’arf—crown，andIdroppedthecigaretteasneartheplaceasIcould。ButIcan’tdoitagain。Itwasthisway，"heexplained。"Iwasn’ttakingnoticeofthehouses。Iwaswalkingalonglookingintothegutterforstumps。Iseethispaperwrappedaboutsomethinground。’It’sacopper，’Ithinks，’juckedoutofawindertoaorgan—grinder。’Isnatchesit，andruns。Ididn’ttakenotimetolookatthehouses。Butitwasn’tsofarfromwhereI

showedyou;aboutthemiddlehouseinthestreetandontheleft’andside。"

Fordhadneverconsideredthemanasaseriouselementintheproblem。Hebelievedhimtoknowaslittleofthematterasheprofessedtoknow。Butitwasessentialheshouldkeepthatlittletohimself。

"Noonewillpayyoufortalking，"Fordpointedout，"andI’llpayyoutokeepquiet。So，ifyousaynothingconcerningthatnote，attheendoftwoweeks，I’llleavetwopoundsforyouwithJames，attheEmbassy。"

Theman，whobelievedFordtobeanagentofthepolice，wasonlytoohappytoescapeonsucheasyterms。AfterFordhadgivenhimapoundonaccount，theyparted。

FromWimpoleStreettheamateurdetectivewenttothenearestpublictelephoneandcalledupGerridge’sHotel。HeconsideredhisfirststepshouldbetodiscoverifMr。Pearsallwasatthathotel，orhadeverstoppedthere。Whenthe’phonewasanswered，herequestedthatamessagebedeliveredtoMr。Pearsall。

"Pleasetellhim，"heasked，"thattheclothesheorderedarereadytotryon。"

Hewasinformedthatnoonebythatnamewasatthehotel。InavoiceofconcernFordbeggedtoknowwhenMr。Pearsallhadgoneaway，andhadheleftanyaddress。

Hewaswithyouthreeweeksago，"Fordinsisted。"He’sanAmericangentleman，andtherewasaladywithhim。Sheorderedariding—habitofus:thesametimehewasmeasuredforhisclothes。"

Afterashortdelay，thevoicefromthehotelrepliedthatnooneofthenameofPearsallhadbeenatthehotelthatwinter。

InapparentgreatdisgustFordrangoff，andtookataxicabtohisroomsinJermynStreet。Therehepackedasuit—caseanddrovetoGerridge’s。Itwasaquiet，respectable，"old—established"houseinCravenStreet，athoroughfarealmostentirelygivenovertosmallfamilyhotelsmuchfrequentedbyAmericans。

Afterhehadregisteredandhadlefthisbaginhisroom，Fordreturnedtotheoffice，andinanassuredmanneraskedthatacardonwhichhehadwritten"HenryW。Page，Dalesville，Kentucky，"

shouldbetakentoMr。Pearsall。

Inatoneofobviousannoyancetheproprietorreturnedthecard，sayingthattherewasnooneofthatnameinthehotel，andaddedthatnosuchpersonhadeverstoppedthere。Fordexpressedtheliveliestdistress。

"HeTOLDmeI’dfindhimhere，"heprotested。，"heandhisniece。"

WiththegarrulousnessoftheAmericanabroad，heconfidedhistroublestotheentirestaffofthehotel。"We’refromthesametown，"heexplained。"That’swhyImustseehim。He’stheonlymaninLondonIknow，andI’vespentallmymoney。Hesaidhe’dgivemesomeheowesme，assoonasIreachedLondon。IfIcan’tgetit，I’llhavetogohomebyWednesday’ssteamer。And，complainedbitterly，"Ihaven’tseenthenortheTower，norWestminsterAbbey。"

Inamoment，Ford’sanxietytomeetMr。Pearsallwasapparentlylostinawaveofself—pity。Inhisdisappointmentheappealing，patheticfigure。

Realdetectivesandrivalnewspapermen，evenwhiletheyadmittedFordobtainedfactsthatweredeniedthem，claimedthattheyweregivenhimfromcharity。Wheretheybullied，browbeat，andadministeredathirddegree，Fordwasembarrassed，deprecatory，anearnest，ingenuous，wide—eyedchild。Whathecalledhis"working"

smilebeggedofyounottobecrosswithhim。Hissimplicitywasapparentlysohopeless，hisconfidenceinwhomeverheaddressedsocomplete，thatofteneventhemanhewaspursuingfeltforhimapityingcontempt。Nowashestooduncertainlyinthehallofthehotel，hishelplessnessmovedtheproudladyclerktoshakehercylindersoffalsehairsympathetically，theGermanwaiterstoregardhispredicamentwithrespect;eventheproprietor，Mr。

Gerridgehimself，wasillatease。Fordreturnedtohisroom，onthesecondfloorofthehotel，andsatdownontheedgeofthebed。

InconnectingPearsallwithGerridge’s，boththepoliceandhimselfhadfailed。Ofthistherewerethreepossibleexplanations:thatthegirlwhowrotetheletterwasinerror，thattheletterwasahoax，thattheproprietorofthehotel，forsomereason，wasprotectingPearsall，andhaddeceivedbothFordandScotlandYard。

Ontheotherhand，withoutknowingwhythegirlbelievedPearsallwouldbefoundatGerridge’s，itwasreasonabletoassumethatinsothinkingshehadbeenpurposelymisled。Thequestionwas，shouldheornotdismissGerridge’sasapossibleclew，andatoncedevotehimselftofindingthehouseinSowellStreet？Hedecidedforthemomentatleast，toleaveGerridge’soutofhiscalculations，but，asanexcuseforreturningthere，tostillretainhisroom。HeatoncestartedtowardSowellStreet，andinordertofindoutifanyonefromthehotelwerefollowinghim，hesetforthonfoot。Assoonashemadesurehewasnotspiedupon，hecoveredtheremainderofthedistanceinacab。

Hewasactingonthesuppositionthattheletterwasnopracticaljoke，butagenuinecryforhelp。SowellStreetwasascenesetforsuchanadventure。Itwasnarrow，mean—looking，thestuccohouse—fronts，soot—stained，cracked，anduncared—for，thestepsbrokenandunwashed。Asheentereditacoldrainwasfalling，andayellowfogthatrolledbetweenthehousesaddedtoitsdreariness。Itwasnowlateintheafternoon，andsoovercasttheskythatinmanyroomsthegaswaslitandthecurtainsdrawn。

Thegirl，apparentlyfromobservingthedailyprogressofthesun，hadwrittenshewasonthewestsideofthestreetand，shebelieved，inanupperstory。Themanwhopickedupthenotehadsaidhehadfounditoppositethehousesinthemiddleoftheblock。Accordingly，Fordproceededonthesuppositionthattheentireeastsideofthestreet，thelowerstoriesofthewestside，andthehousesateachendwereeliminated。Thethreehousesinthecentreoftherowwereoutwardlyalike。Theywereoffourstories。

Eachwastheresidenceofaphysician，andineach，intheupperstories，theblindsweredrawn。Fromthefronttherewasnothingtobelearned，andinthehopethattherearmightfurnishsomeclew，FordhastenedtoWimpoleStreet，inwhichthehousestotheeastbackeduponthosetothewestinSowellStreet。Thesehousesweregivenovertofurnishedlodgings，andunderthepretextofrentingchambers，itwaseasyforFordtoenterthem，andfromtheapartmentsinthereartoobtainseveralhastyglimpsesofthebacksofthethreehousesinSowellStreet。Butneitherfromthisview—pointdidhegatheranyfactofinterest。InoneofthethreehousesinSowellStreetironbarswerefastenedacrossthewindowsofthefourthfloor，butinprivatesanatoriumsthiswasneitherunusualnorsuspicious。Thebarsmightcoverthewindowsofanurserytopreventchildrenfromfallingout，ortheroomofsometimidhouseholderwithalivelyfearofburglars。