"Mr. Hawthorne, you may begin by telling us a few details about yourself and your daughter's background prior to the event."
"Well, Mr. Holmes, I am a writer by trade. I was formerly involved with a religious movement, but I left after I became... enlightened, shall we say?
"I worked as a diplomat for the American embassy in London for a while; I'm partially American myself, as you may have guessed from my accent; but it was a politically appointed job, actually, and during that time, I came to meet my wife. However, after Gladstone left office, I was dismissed, so we had opportunity to marry and we had our daughter, Delia.
"Tragedy struck, however, after Delia was born, and my wife passed away from complications following the birth. So it has always, more or less, been the two of us.
"We moved to the countryside after that, and I took up my writing. I didn't make much, but it still keep us going, thankfully. Se was educated by the local schoolmaster, and I was able to fund her education and any food we needed from my writing.
"So then a few months ago, Giuseppe, sorry, Mr. Bruno, came to the village a year or so ago. And he worked hard to earn money by doing his job and other little odd jobs, including odd jobs for me too. I guess that's how my daughter came to meet him and came to fall for him.
"She loved him, Mr. Holmes, and he loved her all the same, that much was obvious. I even told her in private that if they wanted to marry, then I would have no objections whatsoever to the union.
"Then, the events that transpired only a few weeks ago occurred, Mr. Holmes. Sorry, Inspector, am I going too fast for you? Would you rather I speak slower?"
"Not at all, Mr. Hawthorne. Pray continue."
"Okay, well, it was a few weeks ago when it all happened. My daughter came home in a rather distressed sort of way. You know, the way that girls that age can be."
"I know the sort indeed, Mr. Hawthorne." interrupted Sherlock Holmes "Tell me, did your daughter explain the reason for the upset?"
"She didn't at all, Mr. Holmes! She went upstairs to her bedroom and refused to talk about it, even at dinner. Even the housekeeper couldn't manage to get a word out of her to see what on earth could be the matter.
"Anyway, we left it at that as I went to go and take my evening walk; at around six o'clock that evening, that is; when I passed by Giuseppe. He, too, looked rather annoyed in the same manner, and I had thought that the two of them had fallen out or something.
"So I asked him 'Giuseppe, is there anything the matter between you and Delia?'
"To which he replied, 'No, nothing is wrong with me or your bambina'.
"'Well, she came home in a terrible strop, and she was very upset.' I replied, wondering if he might have said or done something himself to upset her.
"'No, I assure you, she will be alright.' he reassured me through gritted teeth. 'It is simply that someone tried to, how you say, come between us. However, they will not so much as be given a sbirciare into our relationship.'
"'Okay then, if you're sure. Let me know if you want anything.' I called after him after he went on his way and I went mine.
"I then got home that evening, and my daughter had confined herself to her room for the evening and refused to come out or speak to me or the housekeeper. I tried all evening to get her to so much as speak to me, then gave up and went to bed at around eleven o'clock that night, as is my usual routine.
"I woke up the... next morning..." said Hawthorne, swallowing a lump in his throat "I had... finally given in, and... broke the door down myself. That's... when I... saw... her..." he managed to explain, before finally breaking down.
"There, there..." said Athelney Jones, patting Hawthorne gently on the back.
"It's alright. Just let it all out..." said Stevenson.
"I see." said Sherlock Holmes, with the usual languid expression upon his face "Constable Randall?"
"Yes, Mr. Holmes?"
"Would you be so kind as to fetch Mr. Hawthorne a glass of water?"
"At once, Mr. Holmes."
"Very good. Mr. Huddlestone, when you are ready to begin, would you care to issue us your account?"
