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I believe that he would have come all the way had it not been that Dr. Ferrier, who lives near me, was going down by that very train.

The doctor most kindly took charge of me, and it was well he did so, for I had a fit in the station, and before we reached home I was practically a raving maniac.

"You can imagine the state of things here when they were roused from their beds by the doctor's ringing and found me in this condition.

Poor Annie here and my mother were broken-hearted. Dr. Ferrier had just heard enough from the detective at the station to be able to give an idea of what had happened, and his story did not mend matters.

It was evident to all that I was in for a long illness, so Joseph was bundled out of this cheery bedroom, and it was turned into a sick-room for me.

Here I have lain, Mr. Holmes, for over nine weeks, unconscious, and raving with brain-fever.

If it had not been for Miss Harrison here and for the doctor's care I should not be speaking to you now.

She has nursed me by day and a hired nurse has looked after me by night, for in my mad fits I was capable of anything.

Slowly my reason has cleared, but it is only during the last three days that my memory has quite returned.

Sometimes I wish that it never had.

The first thing that I did was to wire to Mr. Forbes, who had the case in hand.

He came out, and assures me that, though everything has been done, no trace of a clue has been discovered.

The commissionnaire and his wife have been examined in every way without any light being thrown upon the matter.

The suspicions of the police then rested upon young Gorot, who, as you may remember, stayed over time in the office that night.

His remaining behind and his French name were really the only two points which could suggest suspicion; but, as a matter of fact, I did not begin work until he had gone, and his people are of Huguenot extraction, but as English in sympathy and tradition as you and I are.

Nothing was found to implicate him in any way, and there the matter dropped.

I turn to you, Mr. Holmes, as absolutely my last hope.

If you fail me, then my honor as well as my position are forever forfeited."

The invalid sank back upon his cushions, tired out by this long recital, while his nurse poured him out a glass of some stimulating medicine.

Holmes sat silently, with his head thrown back and his eyes closed, in an attitude which might seem listless to a stranger, but which I knew betokened the most intense self-absorption.

"You statement has been so explicit," said he at last, "that you have really left me very few questions to ask. There is one of the very utmost importance, however. Did you tell any one that you had this special task to perform?"

"No one."

"Not Miss Harrison here, for example?"

"No. I had not been back to Woking between getting the order and executing the commission."

"And none of your people had by chance been to see you?"

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