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The Adventure of the Dancing Men
HiltonCubitt,butIshouldbeverymuchobligedifyouwouldkindlygooveritallagainforthebenefitofmyfriend,Dr.Watson.”
“I’mnotmuchofastory-teller,”saidourvisitor,nervouslyclaspingandunclaspinghisgreat,stronghands.“You’lljustaskmeanythingthatIdon’tmakeclear.I’llbeginatthetimeofmymarriagelastyear,butIwanttosayfirstofallthat,thoughI’mnotarichman,mypeoplehavebeenatRidingThorpeforamatteroffivecenturies,andthereisnobetterknownfamilyintheCountyofNorfolk.LastyearIcameuptoLondonfortheJubilee,andIstoppedataboarding-houseinRussellSquare,becauseParker,thevicarofourparish,wasstayinginit.TherewasanAmericanyoungladythere—Patrickwasthename—ElsiePatrick.Insomewaywebecamefriends,untilbeforemymonthwasupIwasasmuchinloveasamancouldbe.Wewerequietlymarriedataregistryoffice,andwereturnedtoNorfolkaweddedcouple.You’llthinkitverymad,Mr.Holmes,thatamanofagoodoldfamilyshouldmarryawifeinthisfashion,knowingnothingofherpastorofherpeople,butifyousawherandknewher,itwouldhelpyoutounderstand.
“Shewasverystraightaboutit,wasElsie.Ican’tsaythatshedidnotgivemeeverychanceofgettingoutofitifIwishedtodoso.‘Ihavehadsomeverydisagreeableassociationsinmylife,’saidshe,‘Iwishtoforgetallaboutthem.Iwouldratherneveralludetothepast,foritisverypainfultome.
