At last there
came a warning to him that the bloodhounds were on his track once
more, and he cleared--only just in time--for England. And thence
came the John Douglas who for a second time married a worthy
mate, and lived for five years as a Sussex county gentleman, a
life which ended with the strange happenings of which we have
heard.
Epilogue
The police trial had passed, in which the case of John Douglas
was referred to a higher court. So had the Quarter Sessions, at
which he was acquitted as having acted in self-defense.
"Get him out of England at any cost," wrote Holmes to the wife.
"There are forces here which may be more dangerous than those he
has escaped. There is no safety for your husband in England."
Two months had gone by, and the case had to some extent passed
from our minds. Then one morning there came an enigmatic note
slipped into our letter box. "Dear me, Mr. Holmes. Dear me!"
said this singular epistle. There was neither superscription nor
signature. I laughed at the quaint message; but Holmes showed
unwonted seriousness.
"Deviltry, Watson!" he remarked, and sat long with a clouded
brow.
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