Strona 53 z 657

"MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,-You really did it very well. You

took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a

suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I

began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had

been told that, if the King employed an agent, it would certainly

be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this,

you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became

suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind

old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress

myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage

of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to

watch you, ran upstairs, got into my walking clothes, as I call

them, and came down just as you departed.