James M. Dodd

It would have meant pressure being put on us to segregate him.

I foresaw this situation, and I brought with us a friend whose discretion may be absolutely trusted.

I was able once to do him a professional service, and he is ready to advise, as a friend,

rather than as a specialist.

His name is Sir James Saunders.

Sir James?

He's a present in the carriage outside the door.

Then I should be proud, Mr. Holmes.

Good.

I will ask him to step this way.

Meanwhile, Colonel Innsworth, we may perhaps assemble in your study.

As this case was first presented to me, there were three possible explanations of the seclusion or incarceration of this gentleman in and out of his father's mansion.

There was the possibility that he was in hiding for a crime, or that he was mad and they wished to avoid an asylum,

or that he had some disease which caused his segregation.

I could think of no other adequate explanations.

The criminal solution would not bear inspection.

No unsolved crime had been reported from this district.

If it were some crime not yet discovered, then clearly it would be to the family's interest to send the delinquent abroad rather than keep him concealed at home.

Insanity was more plausible.

What's that?