“The young lady, whose name he never mentioned, lives not in the city but in that same Long Island village where Mr. X’s country-house is in the process of renovation.  If he, Holmes, should ever be so fortunate as to be ordered to drive there again, he knew of a gravel walk running under the balcony where the two often sat.  He would make the acquaintance of that gravel walk instead of sitting out the hour somewhere in the rear, as he had hitherto been accustomed to do.  What’s the use of having ears if you don’t use them?  Nobody would be any the worse, and his mind would be at rest.

“And do you know, sir, that he did actually carry this cowardly resolution through.  There came a night—­I think it was Tuesday—­when the order came, and they took the road to Belport.  Not a word did his employer utter the whole way.  Solemn and still he sat, and when they arrived he descended without a word, rang the bell and entered the house.  It was very warm, that night, Holmes said, and before long he heard the glass doors open onto the balcony, and knew that his wished-for chance had come.  Leaving the limousine, he crept around to secure a place among the bushes, and what he heard while there seemed to compensate him for what he called his loss of dignity.  The young girl was crying, and the man was talking to her kindly enough but in a way to end whatever hopes she may have had.

“Holmes heard him say:  ’It cannot be, now.  Circumstances have changed for me lately, and much as I regret it I must ask you to be so good as to forgive me for giving up our plans.’  Then he offered her money,—­an annuity, I believe they call it,—­but she cried out at that, saying it was love she wanted, to be petted and cared for—­money she could do without.  When he showed himself again in front, he was stiffer and more solemn than ever, and said ‘Home,’ in a dreary way which made the chauffeur feel decidedly uncomfortable.

“Of course Holmes is quite blind to what this all means, but you may possibly see some connection between this sudden act of sacrifice on X’s part and the work of the arrow.  At all events, I thought you ought to know that Mr. X’s closet holds a skeleton which he will doubtless take every pains to keep securely locked from general view.  Holmes says that his last word to the disappointed girl was in the way of warning.  No mention of this break in their plans was to be made without his sanction.”

“Good work, Sweetwater!  You have strengthened my hands wonderfully.  Does this fellow Holmes know you for a police-detective?”

“Indeed not, sir.  That would be fatal to our friendship, I am sure.  I haven’t even let him discover that what he was burning to tell had any especial interest for me.  I let him ramble on with just a word here and there to show I wasn’t bored.  He hasn’t an idea——­”

“Very good.  Now, what do you propose to do next?”

“To take up my residence in Belport.”