The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes Read Free

stayed at
    the best hotel in Grindelwald, and she arrives in a carriage of the well-to-do. Since her own
    initials, 'C.F.,' do not match the 'M.' on the carriage-panel, we may assume her to occupy a
    position of equality in some well-to-do family. Her youth precludes the position of governess,
    and we are left with a lady's companion. As for the man who has engaged her affections, her
    blushes and lowered eyelids proclaim as much. Absurd, is it not?"
    "But it is true, Mr. Holmes!" cried our visitor, clasping her hands together in even deeper
    agitation. "My name is Celia Forsythe, and for over a year I have been companion to Lady
    Mayo, of Groxton Low Hall, in Surrey. Charles—"
    "Charles? That is the name of the gentleman in question?"
    Miss Forsythe nodded her head without looking up.
    "If I hesitate to speak of him," she continued, "it is because I fear you may laugh at me. I
    fear you may think me mad; or, worse still, that poor Charles himself is mad."
    "And why should I think so, Miss Forsythe?"
    "Mr. Holmes, he cannot endure the sight of a clock!"
    "Of a clock?"
    "In the past fortnight, sir, and for no explicable reason, he has destroyed seven clocks. Two
    of them he smashed in public, and before my own eyes!"
    Sherlock Holmes rubbed his long, thin fingers together.
    "Come," said he, "this is most satis—most curious. Pray continue your narrative."
    "I despair of doing so, Mr. Holmes. Yet I will try. For the past year I have been very
    happy in the employ of Lady Mayo. I must tell you that both my parents are dead, but I
    received a good education and such references as I could obtain were fortunately satisfactory.
    Lady Mayo, I must acknowledge, is of somewhat forbidding appearance. She is of the old
    school, stately and austere. Yet to me she has been kindness itself. In fact, it was she who
    suggested that we take the holiday in Switzerland, fearing that the isolation of Groxton Low
    Hall might depress my spirits. In the train between Paris and Grindelwald we met—met
    Charles. I should say Mr. Charles Hendon."
    Holmes had relapsed into the arm-chair, putting his finger-tips together as was his wont
    when he was in a judicial mood.
    "Then this was the first time you had met the gentleman?" he asked.
    "Oh, yes!"
    "I see. And how did the acquaintanceship come about?"
    "A trifling matter, Mr. Holmes. We three were alone in a first-class carriage. Charles's
    manners are so beautiful, his voice so fine, his smile so captivating—"
    "No doubt. But pray be precise as to details."
    Miss Forsythe opened wide her large blue eyes.
    "I believe it was the window," said she. "Charles (I may tell you that he has remarkable
    eyes and a heavy brown moustache) bowed and requested Lady Mayo's permission to lower
    the window. She assented, and in a few moments they were chatting together like old friends."
    "H'm! I see."
    "Lady Mayo, in turn, presented me to Charles. The journey to Grindelwald passed quickly
    and happily. And yet, no sooner had we entered the foyer of the Hotel Splendide, than
    there occurred the first of the horrible shocks which have since made my life wretched.
    "Despite its name, the hotel proved to be rather small and charming. Even then, I knew Mr.
    Hendon for a man of some importance, though he had described himself modestly as a single
    gentleman travelling with only one manservant. The manager of the hotel, M. Branger,
    approached and bowed deeply both to Lady Mayo and to Mr. Hendon. With M. Branger he
    exchanged some words in a low voice and the manager bowed deeply again. Whereupon
    Charles turned round, smiling, and then quite suddenly his whole demeanour altered.
    "I can still see him standing there, in his long coat and top hat, with a heavy malacca
    walking-stick under his arm. His back was turned towards an ornamental half-circle of ferns
    and evergreens surrounding a fireplace with a low mantelshelf on which stood a Swiss clock of
    exquisite design.
    "Up to this time I had not even observed the