47642    He was very sorry for all that had passed, and he recognized how foolish and how selfish it was that he should imagine that he could hold a beautiful woman like his sister to himself for her whole life.

47643    If she had to leave him he had rather it was to a neighbour like myself than to anyone else.

47644    But in any case it was a blow to him, and it would take him some time before he could prepare himself to meet it.

47645    He would withdraw all opposition upon his part if I would promise for three months to let the matter rest, and to be content with cultivating the lady's friendship during that time without claiming her love.

47646    This I promised, and so the matter rests.'

47647    So there is one of our small mysteries cleared up.

47648    It is something to have touched bottom anywhere in this bog in which we are floundering.

47649    We know now why Stapleton looked with disfavour upon his sister's suitor - even when that suitor was so eligible a one as Sir Henry.

47650    And now I pass on to another thread which I have extricated out of the tangled skein, the mystery of the sobs in the night, of the tear-stained face of Mrs Barrymore, of the secret journey of the butler to the western lattice-window.

47651    Congratulate me, my dear Holmes, and tell me that I have not disappointed you as an agent - that you do not regret the confidence which you showed in me when you sent me down.

47652    All these things have by one night's work been thoroughly cleared.

47653    I have said 'by one night's work', but, in truth, it was by two nights' work, for on the first we drew entirely blank.

47654    I sat up with Sir Henry in his room until nearly three o'clock in the morning, but no sound of any sort did we hear except the chiming clock upon the stairs.

47655    It was a most melancholy vigil, and ended by each of us falling asleep in our chairs.

47656    Fortunately we were not discouraged, and we determined to try again.