The Adventure of the Abbey Grange

Arthur Conan Doyle

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I t was on a bitterly cold and frosty morning
during the winter of ’97 that I was awak-
ened by a tugging at my shoulder. It was
Holmes. The candle in his hand shone upon
his eager, stooping face and told me at a glance that
something was amiss.
“I will, my dear Watson, I will. At present I am, as
you know, fairly busy, but I propose to devote my de-
clining years to the composition of a text-book which
shall focus the whole art of detection into one volume.
Our present research appears to be a case of murder.”
“You think this Sir Eustace is dead, then?”
“Come, Watson, come!” he cried. “The game is “I should say so. Hopkins’s writing shows consid-
afoot. Not a word! Into your clothes and come!” erable agitation, and he is not an emotional man. Yes,
Ten minutes later we were both in a cab and rat- I gather there has been violence, and that the body
tling through the silent streets on our way to Charing is left for our inspection. A mere suicide would not
Cross Station. The first faint winter’s dawn was begin- have caused him to send for me. As to the release
ning to appear, and we could dimly see the occasional of the lady, it would appear that she has been locked
figure of an early workman as he passed us, blurred in her room during the tragedy. We are moving in
and indistinct in the opalescent London reek. Holmes high life, Watson; crackling paper, ‘E.B.’ monogram,
nestled in silence into his heavy coat, and I was glad coat-of-arms, picturesque address. I think that friend
to do the same, for the air was most bitter and neither Hopkins will live up to his reputation and that we
of us had broken our fast. It was not until we had shall have an interesting morning. The crime was
consumed some hot tea at the station, and taken our committed before twelve last night.”
places in the Kentish train, that we were sufficiently “How can you possibly tell?”
thawed, he to speak and I to listen. Holmes drew a “By an inspection of the trains and by reckoning
note from his pocket and read it aloud: the time. The local police had to be called in, they
had to communicate with Scotland Yard, Hopkins
“Abbey Grange, Marsham, Kent,
had to go out, and he in turn had to send for me. All
“3.30 a.m.
that makes a fair night’s work. Well, here we are at
“My dear Mr. Holmes:
Chislehurst Station, and we shall soon set our doubts
“I should be very glad of your imme-
at rest.”
diate assistance in what promises to be
a most remarkable case. It is something A drive of a couple of miles through narrow coun-
quite in your line. Except for releasing the try lanes brought us to a park gate, which was opened
lady I will see that everything is kept ex- for us by an old lodge-keeper, whose haggard face
actly as I have found it, but I beg you not bore the reflection of some great disaster. The avenue
to lose an instant, as it is difficult to leave ran through a noble park, between lines of ancient
Sir Eustace there. elms, and ended in a low, widespread house, pillared
— “Yours faithfully, in front after the fashion of Palladio. The central part
“Stanley Hopkins.” was evidently of a great age and shrouded in ivy, but
the large windows showed that modern changes had
been carried out, and one wing of the house appeared
“Hopkins has called me in seven times, and on to be entirely new. The youthful figure and alert, ea-
each occasion his summons has been entirely justi- ger face of Inspector Stanley Hopkins confronted us
fied,” said Holmes. “I fancy that every one of his in the open doorway.
cases has found its way into your collection, and I
must admit, Watson, that you have some power of “I’m very glad you have come, Mr. Holmes. And
selection which atones for much which I deplore in you too, Dr. Watson! But, indeed, if I had my time
your narratives. Your fatal habit of looking at every- over again I should not have troubled you, for since
thing from the point of view of a story instead of as a the lady has come to herself she has given so clear
scientific exercise has ruined what might have been an an account of the affair that there is not much left
instructive and even classical series of demonstrations. for us to do. You remember that Lewisham gang of
You slur over work of the utmost finesse and delicacy burglars?”
in order to dwell upon sensational details which may “What, the three Randalls?”
excite, but cannot possibly instruct, the reader.”
“Exactly; the father and two sons. It’s their work.
“Why do you not write them yourself?” I said, I have not a doubt of it. They did a job at Sydenham
with some bitterness. a fortnight ago, and were seen and described. Rather

1
cool to do another so soon and so near, but it is they, use my attempting to conceal that our marriage has
beyond all doubt. It’s a hanging matter this time.” not been a happy one. I fear that all our neighbours
“Sir Eustace is dead, then?” would tell you that, even if I were to attempt to deny it.
Perhaps the fault may be partly mine. I was brought
“Yes; his head was knocked in with his own
up in the freer, less conventional atmosphere of South
poker.”
Australia, and this English life, with its proprieties
“Sir Eustace Brackenstall, the driver tells me.” and its primness, is not congenial to me. But the
“Exactly—one of the richest men in Kent. Lady main reason lies in the one fact which is notorious
Brackenstall is in the morning-room. Poor lady, she to everyone, and that is that Sir Eustace was a con-
has had a most dreadful experience. She seemed half firmed drunkard. To be with such a man for an hour
dead when I saw her first. I think you had best see is unpleasant. Can you imagine what it means for a
her and hear her account of the facts. Then we will sensitive and high-spirited woman to be tied to him
examine the dining-room together.” for day and night? It is a sacrilege, a crime, a vil-
Lady Brackenstall was no ordinary person. Sel- lainy to hold that such a marriage is binding. I say
dom have I seen so graceful a figure, so womanly a that these monstrous laws of yours will bring a curse
presence, and so beautiful a face. She was a blonde, upon the land—Heaven will not let such wickedness
golden-haired, blue-eyed, and would, no doubt, have endure.” For an instant she sat up, her cheeks flushed,
had the perfect complexion which goes with such and her eyes blazing from under the terrible mark
colouring had not her recent experience left her drawn upon her brow. Then the strong, soothing hand of the
and haggard. Her sufferings were physical as well austere maid drew her head down on to the cushion,
as mental, for over one eye rose a hideous, plum- and the wild anger died away into passionate sobbing.
coloured swelling, which her maid, a tall, austere At last she continued:—
woman, was bathing assiduously with vinegar and “I will tell you about last night. You are aware,
water. The lady lay back exhausted upon a couch, but perhaps, that in this house all servants sleep in the
her quick, observant gaze as we entered the room, modern wing. This central block is made up of the
and the alert expression of her beautiful features, dwelling-rooms, with the kitchen behind and our bed-
showed that neither her wits nor her courage had room above. My maid Theresa sleeps above my room.
been shaken by her terrible experience. She was en- There is no one else, and no sound could alarm those
veloped in a loose dressing-gown of blue and silver, who are in the farther wing. This must have been well
but a black sequin-covered dinner-dress was hung known to the robbers, or they would not have acted
upon the couch beside her. as they did.
“I have told you all that happened, Mr. Hopkins,” “Sir Eustace retired about half-past ten. The ser-
she said, wearily; “could you not repeat it for me? vants had already gone to their quarters. Only my
Well, if you think it necessary, I will tell these gentle- maid was up, and she had remained in her room at
men what occurred. Have they been in the dining- the top of the house until I needed her services. I sat
room yet?” until after eleven in this room, absorbed in a book.
“I thought they had better hear your ladyship’s Then I walked round to see that all was right before
story first.” I went upstairs. It was my custom to do this myself,
“I shall be glad when you can arrange matters. It for, as I have explained, Sir Eustace was not always
is horrible to me to think of him still lying there.” She to be trusted. I went into the kitchen, the butler’s
shuddered and buried her face in her hands. As she pantry, the gun-room, the billiard-room, the drawing-
did so the loose gown fell back from her forearms. room, and finally the dining-room. As I approached
Holmes uttered an exclamation. the window, which is covered with thick curtains, I
suddenly felt the wind blow upon my face and real-
“You have other injuries, madam! What is this?”
ized that it was open. I flung the curtain aside and
Two vivid red spots stood out on one of the white,
found myself face to face with a broad-shouldered,
round limbs. She hastily covered it.
elderly man who had just stepped into the room. The
“It is nothing. It has no connection with the window is a long French one, which really forms a
hideous business of last night. If you and your friend door leading to the lawn. I held my bedroom candle
will sit down I will tell you all I can. lit in my hand, and, by its light, behind the first man
“I am the wife of Sir Eustace Brackenstall. I have I saw two others, who were in the act of entering. I
been married about a year. I suppose that it is no stepped back, but the fellow was on me in an instant.

2
He caught me first by the wrist and then by the throat. with him; but she never wanted courage, did Miss
I opened my mouth to scream, but he struck me a Mary Fraser of Adelaide, and Lady Brackenstall of
savage blow with his fist over the eye, and felled me Abbey Grange hasn’t learned new ways. You’ve ques-
to the ground. I must have been unconscious for a tioned her long enough, you gentlemen, and now she
few minutes, for when I came to myself I found that is coming to her own room, just with her old Theresa,
they had torn down the bell-rope and had secured to get the rest that she badly needs.”
me tightly to the oaken chair which stands at the With a motherly tenderness the gaunt woman put
head of the dining-room table. I was so firmly bound her arm round her mistress and led her from the
that I could not move, and a handkerchief round my room.
mouth prevented me from uttering any sound. It was
“She has been with her all her life,” said Hopkins.
at this instant that my unfortunate husband entered
“Nursed her as a baby, and came with her to England
the room. He had evidently heard some suspicious
when they first left Australia eighteen months ago.
sounds, and he came prepared for such a scene as
Theresa Wright is her name, and the kind of maid
he found. He was dressed in his shirt and trousers,
you don’t pick up nowadays. This way, Mr. Holmes,
with his favourite blackthorn cudgel in his hand. He
if you please!”
rushed at one of the burglars, but another—it was the
elderly man—stooped, picked the poker out of the The keen interest had passed out of Holmes’s ex-
grate, and struck him a horrible blow as he passed. pressive face, and I knew that with the mystery all the
He fell without a groan, and never moved again. I charm of the case had departed. There still remained
fainted once more, but again it could only have been an arrest to be effected, but what were these com-
a very few minutes during which I was insensible. monplace rogues that he should soil his hands with
When I opened my eyes I found that they had col- them? An abstruse and learned specialist who finds
lected the silver from the sideboard, and they had that he has been called in for a case of measles would
drawn a bottle of wine which stood there. Each of experience something of the annoyance which I read
them had a glass in his hand. I have already told in my friend’s eyes. Yet the scene in the dining-room
you, have I not, that one was elderly, with a beard, of the Abbey Grange was sufficiently strange to arrest
and the others young, hairless lads. They might have his attention and to recall his waning interest.
been a father with his two sons. They talked together It was a very large and high chamber, with carved
in whispers. Then they came over and made sure oak ceiling, oaken panelling, and a fine array of deer’s
that I was still securely bound. Finally they withdrew, heads and ancient weapons around the walls. At
closing the window after them. It was quite a quarter the farther end from the door was the high French
of an hour before I got my mouth free. When I did so window of which we had heard. Three smaller win-
my screams brought the maid to my assistance. The dows on the right-hand side filled the apartment with
other servants were soon alarmed, and we sent for cold winter sunshine. On the left was a large, deep
the local police, who instantly communicated with fireplace, with a massive, over-hanging oak mantel-
London. That is really all that I can tell you, gentle- piece. Beside the fireplace was a heavy oaken chair
men, and I trust that it will not be necessary for me with arms and cross-bars at the bottom. In and out
to go over so painful a story again.” through the open woodwork was woven a crimson
cord, which was secured at each side to the crosspiece
“Any questions, Mr. Holmes?” asked Hopkins.
below. In releasing the lady the cord had been slipped
“I will not impose any further tax upon Lady off her, but the knots with which it had been secured
Brackenstall’s patience and time,” said Holmes. “Be- still remained. These details only struck our attention
fore I go into the dining-room I should like to hear afterwards, for our thoughts were entirely absorbed
your experience.” He looked at the maid. by the terrible object which lay upon the tiger-skin
“I saw the men before ever they came into the hearthrug in front of the fire.
house,” said she. “As I sat by my bedroom window I It was the body of a tall, well-made man, about
saw three men in the moonlight down by the lodge forty years of age. He lay upon his back, his face up-
gate yonder, but I thought nothing of it at the time. It turned, with his white teeth grinning through his
was more than an hour after that I heard my mistress short black beard. His two clenched hands were
scream, and down I ran, to find her, poor lamb, just raised above his head, and a heavy blackthorn stick
as she says, and him on the floor with his blood and lay across them. His dark, handsome, aquiline fea-
brains over the room. It was enough to drive a woman tures were convulsed into a spasm of vindictive ha-
out of her wits, tied there, and her very dress spotted tred, which had set his dead face in a terribly fiendish

3
expression. He had evidently been in his bed when “When this was pulled down the bell in the
the alarm had broken out, for he wore a foppish em- kitchen must have rung loudly,” he remarked.
broidered night-shirt, and his bare feet projected from “No one could hear it. The kitchen stands right at
his trousers. His head was horribly injured, and the the back of the house.”
whole room bore witness to the savage ferocity of the “How did the burglar know no one would hear
blow which had struck him down. Beside him lay it? How dared he pull at a bell-rope in that reckless
the heavy poker, bent into a curve by the concussion. fashion?”
Holmes examined both it and the indescribable wreck
“Exactly, Mr. Holmes, exactly. You put the very
which it had wrought.
question which I have asked myself again and again.
“He must be a powerful man, this elder Randall,” There can be no doubt that this fellow must have
he remarked. known the house and its habits. He must have per-
“Yes,” said Hopkins. “I have some record of the fectly understood that the servants would all be in
fellow, and he is a rough customer.” bed at that comparatively early hour, and that no one
could possibly hear a bell ring in the kitchen. There-
“You should have no difficulty in getting him.”
fore he must have been in close league with one of the
“Not the slightest. We have been on the look-out servants. Surely that is evident. But there are eight
for him, and there was some idea that he had got servants, and all of good character.”
away to America. Now that we know the gang are “Other things being equal,” said Holmes, “one
here I don’t see how they can escape. We have the would suspect the one at whose head the master
news at every seaport already, and a reward will be threw a decanter. And yet that would involve treach-
offered before evening. What beats me is how they ery towards the mistress to whom this woman seems
could have done so mad a thing, knowing that the devoted. Well, well, the point is a minor one, and
lady could describe them, and that we could not fail when you have Randall you will probably find no
to recognise the description.” difficulty in securing his accomplice. The lady’s story
“Exactly. One would have expected that they certainly seems to be corroborated, if it needed cor-
would have silenced Lady Brackenstall as well.” roboration, by every detail which we see before us.”
He walked to the French window and threw it open.
“They may not have realized,” I suggested, “that
“There are no signs here, but the ground is iron hard,
she had recovered from her faint.”
and one would not expect them. I see that these
“That is likely enough. If she seemed to be sense- candles on the mantelpiece have been lighted.”
less they would not take her life. What about this “Yes; it was by their light and that of the lady’s
poor fellow, Hopkins? I seem to have heard some bedroom candle that the burglars saw their way
queer stories about him.” about.”
“He was a good-hearted man when he was sober, “And what did they take?”
but a perfect fiend when he was drunk, or rather “Well, they did not take much—only half-a-dozen
when he was half drunk, for he seldom really went articles of plate off the sideboard. Lady Brackenstall
the whole way. The devil seemed to be in him at thinks that they were themselves so disturbed by the
such times, and he was capable of anything. From death of Sir Eustace that they did not ransack the
what I hear, in spite of all his wealth and his title, he house as they would otherwise have done.”
very nearly came our way once or twice. There was
“No doubt that is true. And yet they drank some
a scandal about his drenching a dog with petroleum
wine, I understand.”
and setting it on fire—her ladyship’s dog, to make
the matter worse—and that was only hushed up with “To steady their own nerves.”
difficulty. Then he threw a decanter at that maid, “Exactly. These three glasses upon the sideboard
Theresa Wright; there was trouble about that. On the have been untouched, I suppose?”
whole, and between ourselves, it will be a brighter “Yes; and the bottle stands as they left it.”
house without him. What are you looking at now?” “Let us look at it. Halloa! halloa! what is this?”
Holmes was down on his knees examining with The three glasses were grouped together, all of
great attention the knots upon the red cord with them tinged with wine, and one of them contain-
which the lady had been secured. Then he carefully ing some dregs of bees-wing. The bottle stood near
scrutinized the broken and frayed end where it had them, two-thirds full, and beside it lay a long, deeply-
snapped off when the burglar had dragged it down. stained cork. Its appearance and the dust upon the

4
bottle showed that it was no common vintage which Abbey Grange in which this midnight tragedy had
the murderers had enjoyed. been enacted. At last, by a sudden impulse, just as
A change had come over Holmes’s manner. He our train was crawling out of a suburban station, he
had lost his listless expression, and again I saw an sprang on to the platform and pulled me out after
alert light of interest in his keen, deep-set eyes. He him.
raised the cork and examined it minutely. “Excuse me, my dear fellow,” said he, as we
“How did they draw it?” he asked. watched the rear carriages of our train disappearing
round a curve; “I am sorry to make you the victim
Hopkins pointed to a half-opened drawer. In it lay
of what may seem a mere whim, but on my life, Wat-
some table linen and a large cork-screw.
son, I simply can’t leave that case in this condition.
“Did Lady Brackenstall say that screw was used?” Every instinct that I possess cries out against it. It’s
“No; you remember that she was senseless at the wrong—it’s all wrong—I’ll swear that it’s wrong. And
moment when the bottle was opened.” yet the lady’s story was complete, the maid’s corrobo-
“Quite so. As a matter of fact that screw was not ration was sufficient, the detail was fairly exact. What
used. This bottle was opened by a pocket-screw, prob- have I to put against that? Three wine-glasses, that
ably contained in a knife, and not more than an inch is all. But if I had not taken things for granted, if I
and a half long. If you examine the top of the cork had examined everything with care which I would
you will observe that the screw was driven in three have shown had we approached the case de novo and
times before the cork was extracted. It has never been had no cut-and-dried story to warp my mind, would
transfixed. This long screw would have transfixed it I not then have found something more definite to go
and drawn it with a single pull. When you catch this upon? Of course I should. Sit down on this bench,
fellow you will find that he has one of these multiplex Watson, until a train for Chislehurst arrives, and al-
knives in his possession.” low me to lay the evidence before you, imploring you
in the first instance to dismiss from your mind the
“Excellent!” said Hopkins. idea that anything which the maid or her mistress
“But these glasses do puzzle me, I confess. Lady may have said must necessarily be true. The lady’s
Brackenstall actually saw the three men drinking, did charming personality must not be permitted to warp
she not?” our judgment.
“Yes; she was clear about that.” “Surely there are details in her story which, if we
“Then there is an end of it. What more is to be looked at it in cold blood, would excite our suspi-
said? And yet you must admit that the three glasses cion. These burglars made a considerable haul at
are very remarkable, Hopkins. What, you see nothing Sydenham a fortnight ago. Some account of them
remarkable! Well, well, let it pass. Perhaps when a and of their appearance was in the papers, and would
man has special knowledge and special powers like naturally occur to anyone who wished to invent a
my own it rather encourages him to seek a complex story in which imaginary robbers should play a part.
explanation when a simpler one is at hand. Of course, As a matter of fact, burglars who have done a good
it must be a mere chance about the glasses. Well, good stroke of business are, as a rule, only too glad to
morning, Hopkins. I don’t see that I can be of any enjoy the proceeds in peace and quiet without em-
use to you, and you appear to have your case very barking on another perilous undertaking. Again, it is
clear. You will let me know when Randall is arrested, unusual for burglars to operate at so early an hour;
and any further developments which may occur. I it is unusual for burglars to strike a lady to prevent
trust that I shall soon have to congratulate you upon her screaming, since one would imagine that was the
a successful conclusion. Come, Watson, I fancy that sure way to make her scream; it is unusual for them
we may employ ourselves more profitably at home.” to commit murder when their numbers are sufficient
During our return journey I could see by Holmes’s to overpower one man; it is unusual for them to be
face that he was much puzzled by something which content with a limited plunder when there is much
he had observed. Every now and then, by an effort, more within their reach; and finally I should say that
he would throw off the impression and talk as if the it was very unusual for such men to leave a bottle
matter were clear, but then his doubts would settle half empty. How do all these unusuals strike you,
down upon him again, and his knitted brows and Watson?”
abstracted eyes would show that his thoughts had “Their cumulative effect is certainly considerable,
gone back once more to the great dining-room of the and yet each of them is quite possible in itself. The

5
most unusual thing of all, as it seems to me, is that for two hours to one of those minute and laborious
the lady should be tied to the chair.” investigations which formed the solid basis on which
“Well, I am not so clear about that, Watson; for it his brilliant edifices of deduction were reared. Seated
is evident that they must either kill her or else secure in a corner like an interested student who observes
her in such a way that she could not give immediate the demonstration of his professor, I followed every
notice of their escape. But at any rate I have shown, step of that remarkable research. The window, the cur-
have I not, that there is a certain element of improba- tains, the carpet, the chair, the rope—each in turn was
bility about the lady’s story? And now on the top of minutely examined and duly pondered. The body of
this comes the incident of the wine-glasses.” the unfortunate baronet had been removed, but all
else remained as we had seen it in the morning. Then,
“What about the wine-glasses?”
to my astonishment, Holmes climbed up on to the
“Can you see them in your mind’s eye?” massive mantelpiece. Far above his head hung the
“I see them clearly.” few inches of red cord which were still attached to the
“We are told that three men drank from them. wire. For a long time he gazed upward at it, and then
Does that strike you as likely?” in an attempt to get nearer to it he rested his knee
upon a wooden bracket on the wall. This brought
“Why not? There was wine in each glass.”
his hand within a few inches of the broken end of
“Exactly; but there was bees-wing only in one the rope, but it was not this so much as the bracket
glass. You must have noticed that fact. What does itself which seemed to engage his attention. Finally
that suggest to your mind?” he sprang down with an ejaculation of satisfaction.
“The last glass filled would be most likely to con- “It’s all right, Watson,” said he. “We have got our
tain bees-wing.” case—one of the most remarkable in our collection.
“Not at all. The bottle was full of it, and it is incon- But, dear me, how slow-witted I have been, and how
ceivable that the first two glasses were clear and the nearly I have committed the blunder of my lifetime!
third heavily charged with it. There are two possible Now, I think that with a few missing links my chain
explanations, and only two. One is that after the sec- is almost complete.”
ond glass was filled the bottle was violently agitated, “You have got your men?”
and so the third glass received the bees-wing. That “Man, Watson, man. Only one, but a very
does not appear probable. No, no; I am sure that I am formidable person. Strong as a lion—witness the
right.” blow that bent that poker. Six foot three in height,
“What, then, do you suppose?” active as a squirrel, dexterous with his fingers; finally,
“That only two glasses were used, and that the remarkably quick-witted, for this whole ingenious
dregs of both were poured into a third glass, so as to story is of his concoction. Yes, Watson, we have come
give the false impression that three people had been upon the handiwork of a very remarkable individual.
here. In that way all the bees-wing would be in the And yet in that bell-rope he has given us a clue which
last glass, would it not? Yes, I am convinced that this should not have left us a doubt.”
is so. But if I have hit upon the true explanation of “Where was the clue?”
this one small phenomenon, then in an instant the “Well, if you were to pull down a bell-rope, Wat-
case rises from the commonplace to the exceedingly son, where would you expect it to break? Surely at the
remarkable, for it can only mean that Lady Bracken- spot where it is attached to the wire. Why should it
stall and her maid have deliberately lied to us, that break three inches from the top as this one has done?”
not one word of their story is to be believed, that “Because it is frayed there?”
they have some very strong reason for covering the “Exactly. This end, which we can examine, is
real criminal, and that we must construct our case for frayed. He was cunning enough to do that with his
ourselves without any help from them. That is the knife. But the other end is not frayed. You could not
mission which now lies before us, and here, Watson, observe that from here, but if you were on the man-
is the Chislehurst train.” telpiece you would see that it is cut clean off without
The household of the Abbey Grange were much any mark of fraying whatever. You can reconstruct
surprised at our return, but Sherlock Holmes, find- what occurred. The man needed the rope. He would
ing that Stanley Hopkins had gone off to report to not tear it down for fear of giving the alarm by ring-
head-quarters, took possession of the dining-room, ing the bell. What did he do? He sprang up on the
locked the door upon the inside, and devoted himself mantelpiece, could not quite reach it, put his knee

6
on the bracket—you will see the impression in the had entered with us, and began once more to foment
dust—and so got his knife to bear upon the cord. I the bruise upon her mistress’s brow.
could not reach the place by at least three inches, from “I hope,” said the lady, “that you have not come
which I infer that he is at least three inches a bigger to cross-examine me again?”
man than I. Look at that mark upon the seat of the
“No,” Holmes answered, in his gentlest voice, “I
oaken chair! What is it?”
will not cause you any unnecessary trouble, Lady
“Blood.” Brackenstall, and my whole desire is to make things
“Undoubtedly it is blood. This alone puts the easy for you, for I am convinced that you are a much-
lady’s story out of court. If she were seated on the tried woman. If you will treat me as a friend and trust
chair when the crime was done, how comes that mark? me you may find that I will justify your trust.”
No, no; she was placed in the chair after the death of “What do you want me to do?”
her husband. I’ll wager that the black dress shows
“To tell me the truth.”
a corresponding mark to this. We have not yet met
our Waterloo, Watson, but this is our Marengo, for it “Mr. Holmes!”
begins in defeat and ends in victory. I should like now “No, no, Lady Brackenstall, it is no use. You may
to have a few words with the nurse Theresa. We must have heard of any little reputation which I possess.
be wary for awhile, if we are to get the information I will stake it all on the fact that your story is an
which we want.” absolute fabrication.”
She was an interesting person, this stern Aus- Mistress and maid were both staring at Holmes
tralian nurse. Taciturn, suspicious, ungracious, it with pale faces and frightened eyes.
took some time before Holmes’s pleasant manner and “You are an impudent fellow!” cried Theresa. “Do
frank acceptance of all that she said thawed her into you mean to say that my mistress has told a lie?”
a corresponding amiability. She did not attempt to
Holmes rose from his chair.
conceal her hatred for her late employer.
“Have you nothing to tell me?”
“Yes, sir, it is true that he threw the decanter at
me. I heard him call my mistress a name, and I told “I have told you everything.”
him that he would not dare to speak so if her brother “Think once more, Lady Brackenstall. Would it
had been there. Then it was that he threw it at me. not be better to be frank?”
He might have thrown a dozen if he had but left my For an instant there was hesitation in her beautiful
bonny bird alone. He was for ever illtreating her, and face. Then some new strong thought caused it to set
she too proud to complain. She will not even tell like a mask.
me all that he has done to her. She never told me of
“I have told you all I know.”
those marks on her arm that you saw this morning,
but I know very well that they come from a stab with Holmes took his hat and shrugged his shoulders.
a hat-pin. The sly fiend—Heaven forgive me that I “I am sorry,” he said, and without another word we
should speak of him so, now that he is dead, but a left the room and the house. There was a pond in the
fiend he was if ever one walked the earth. He was all park, and to this my friend led the way. It was frozen
honey when first we met him, only eighteen months over, but a single hole was left for the convenience of
ago, and we both feel as if it were eighteen years. She a solitary swan. Holmes gazed at it and then passed
had only just arrived in London. Yes, it was her first on to the lodge gate. There he scribbled a short note
voyage—she had never been from home before. He for Stanley Hopkins and left it with the lodge-keeper.
won her with his title and his money and his false “It may be a hit or it may be a miss, but we are
London ways. If she made a mistake she has paid for bound to do something for friend Hopkins, just to
it, if ever a woman did. What month did we meet justify this second visit,” said he. “I will not quite
him? Well, I tell you it was just after we arrived. We take him into my confidence yet. I think our next
arrived in June, and it was July. They were married in scene of operations must be the shipping office of the
January of last year. Yes, she is down in the morning- Adelaide-Southampton line, which stands at the end
room again, and I have no doubt she will see you, but of Pall Mall, if I remember right. There is a second
you must not ask too much of her, for she has gone line of steamers which connect South Australia with
through all that flesh and blood will stand.” England, but we will draw the larger cover first.”
Lady Brackenstall was reclining on the same Holmes’s card sent in to the manager ensured in-
couch, but looked brighter than before. The maid stant attention, and he was not long in acquiring all

7
the information which he needed. In June of ’95 only “But you haven’t helped me. You have made the
one of their line had reached a home port. It was the affair far more difficult. What sort of burglars are
Rock of Gibraltar, their largest and best boat. A ref- they who steal silver and then throw it into the near-
erence to the passenger list showed that Miss Fraser est pond?”
of Adelaide, with her maid, had made the voyage in “It was certainly rather eccentric behaviour. I was
her. The boat was now on her way to Australia, some- merely going on the idea that if the silver had been
where to the south of the Suez Canal. Her officers taken by persons who did not want it, who merely
were the same as in ’95, with one exception. The first took it for a blind as it were, then they would naturally
officer, Mr. Jack Croker, had been made a captain and be anxious to get rid of it.”
was to take charge of their new ship, the Bass Rock, “But why should such an idea cross your mind?”
sailing in two days’ time from Southampton. He lived
“Well, I thought it was possible. When they came
at Sydenham, but he was likely to be in that morning
out through the French window there was the pond,
for instructions, if we cared to wait for him.
with one tempting little hole in the ice, right in front
No; Mr. Holmes had no desire to see him, but of their noses. Could there be a better hiding-place?”
would be glad to know more about his record and “Ah, a hiding-place—that is better!” cried Stanley
character. Hopkins. “Yes, yes, I see it all now! It was early,
His record was magnificent. There was not an offi- there were folk upon the roads, they were afraid of
cer in the fleet to touch him. As to his character, he being seen with the silver, so they sank it in the pond,
was reliable on duty, but a wild, desperate fellow off intending to return for it when the coast was clear.
the deck of his ship, hot-headed, excitable, but loyal, Excellent, Mr. Holmes—that is better than your idea
honest, and kind-hearted. That was the pith of the of a blind.”
information with which Holmes left the office of the “Quite so; you have got an admirable theory. I
Adelaide-Southampton company. Thence he drove to have no doubt that my own ideas were quite wild, but
Scotland Yard, but instead of entering he sat in his you must admit that they have ended in discovering
cab with his brows drawn down, lost in profound the silver.”
thought. Finally he drove round to the Charing Cross “Yes, sir, yes. It was all your doing. But I have had
telegraph office, sent off a message, and then, at last, a bad set-back.”
we made for Baker Street once more.
“A set-back?”
“No, I couldn’t do it, Watson,” said he, as we re- “Yes, Mr. Holmes. The Randall gang were arrested
entered our room. “Once that warrant was made out in New York this morning.”
nothing on earth would save him. Once or twice in “Dear me, Hopkins! That is certainly rather
my career I feel that I have done more real harm by against your theory that they committed a murder in
my discovery of the criminal than ever he had done Kent last night.”
by his crime. I have learned caution now, and I had
rather play tricks with the law of England than with “It is fatal, Mr. Holmes, absolutely fatal. Still, there
my own conscience. Let us know a little more before are other gangs of three besides the Randalls, or it
we act.” may be some new gang of which the police have never
heard.”
Before evening we had a visit from Inspector Stan- “Quite so; it is perfectly possible. What, are you
ley Hopkins. Things were not going very well with off?”
him.
“Yes, Mr. Holmes; there is no rest for me until I
“I believe that you are a wizard, Mr. Holmes. I have got to the bottom of the business. I suppose you
really do sometimes think that you have powers that have no hint to give me?”
are not human. Now, how on earth could you know “I have given you one.”
that the stolen silver was at the bottom of that pond?”
“Which?”
“I didn’t know it.” “Well, I suggested a blind.”
“But you told me to examine it.” “But why, Mr. Holmes, why?”
“You got it, then?” “Ah, that’s the question, of course. But I commend
the idea to your mind. You might possibly find that
“Yes, I got it.” there was something in it. You won’t stop for dinner?
“I am very glad if I have helped you.” Well, good-bye, and let us know how you get on.”

8
 Dinner was over and the table cleared before know so much already that if you go one inch off the
Holmes alluded to the matter again. He had lit his straight I’ll blow this police whistle from my window
pipe and held his slippered feet to the cheerful blaze and the affair goes out of my hands for ever.”
of the fire. Suddenly he looked at his watch.
The sailor thought for a little. Then he struck his
“I expect developments, Watson.” leg with his great, sun-burned hand.
“When?” “I’ll chance it,” he cried. “I believe you are a man
“Now—within a few minutes. I dare say you of your word, and a white man, and I’ll tell you the
thought I acted rather badly to Stanley Hopkins just whole story. But one thing I will say first. So far as I
now?” am concerned I regret nothing and I fear nothing, and
“I trust your judgment.” I would do it all again and be proud of the job. Curse
the beast, if he had as many lives as a cat he would
“A very sensible reply, Watson. You must look at owe them all to me! But it’s the lady, Mary—Mary
it this way: what I know is unofficial; what he knows Fraser—for never will I call her by that accursed name.
is official. I have the right to private judgment, but he When I think of getting her into trouble, I who would
has none. He must disclose all, or he is a traitor to his give my life just to bring one smile to her dear face,
service. In a doubtful case I would not put him in so it’s that that turns my soul into water. And yet—and
painful a position, and so I reserve my information yet—what less could I do? I’ll tell you my story, gen-
until my own mind is clear upon the matter.” tlemen, and then I’ll ask you as man to man what less
“But when will that be?” could I do.
“The time has come. You will now be present at “I must go back a bit. You seem to know every-
the last scene of a remarkable little drama.” thing, so I expect that you know that I met her when
There was a sound upon the stairs, and our door she was a passenger and I was first officer of the Rock
was opened to admit as fine a specimen of man- of Gibraltar. From the first day I met her she was the
hood as ever passed through it. He was a very tall only woman to me. Every day of that voyage I loved
young man, golden-moustached, blue-eyed, with a her more, and many a time since have I kneeled down
skin which had been burned by tropical suns, and in the darkness of the night watch and kissed the
a springy step which showed that the huge frame deck of that ship because I knew her dear feet had
was as active as it was strong. He closed the door be- trod it. She was never engaged to me. She treated me
hind him, and then he stood with clenched hands and as fairly as ever a woman treated a man. I have no
heaving breast, choking down some overmastering complaint to make. It was all love on my side, and all
emotion. good comradeship and friendship on hers. When we
“Sit down, Captain Croker. You got my telegram?” parted she was a free woman, but I could never again
be a free man.
Our visitor sank into an arm-chair and looked
from one to the other of us with questioning eyes. “Next time I came back from sea I heard of her
marriage. Well, why shouldn’t she marry whom she
“I got your telegram, and I came at the hour you
liked? Title and money—who could carry them better
said. I heard that you had been down to the office.
than she? She was born for all that is beautiful and
There was no getting away from you. Let’s hear the
dainty. I didn’t grieve over her marriage. I was not
worst. What are you going to do with me? Arrest me?
such a selfish hound as that. I just rejoiced that good
Speak out, man! You can’t sit there and play with me
luck had come her way, and that she had not thrown
like a cat with a mouse.”
herself away on a penniless sailor. That’s how I loved
“Give him a cigar,” said Holmes. “Bite on that, Mary Fraser.
Captain Croker, and don’t let your nerves run away
with you. I should not sit here smoking with you if I “Well, I never thought to see her again; but last
thought that you were a common criminal, you may voyage I was promoted, and the new boat was not yet
be sure of that. Be frank with me, and we may do launched, so I had to wait for a couple of months with
some good. Play tricks with me, and I’ll crush you.” my people at Sydenham. One day out in a country
lane I met Theresa Wright, her old maid. She told
“What do you wish me to do?” me about her, about him, about everything. I tell you,
“To give me a true account of all that happened gentlemen, it nearly drove me mad. This drunken
at the Abbey Grange last night—a true account, mind hound, that he should dare to raise his hand to her
you, with nothing added and nothing taken off. I whose boots he was not worthy to lick! I met Theresa

9
again. Then I met Mary herself—and met her again. Holmes smoked for some time in silence. Then he
Then she would meet me no more. But the other day crossed the room and shook our visitor by the hand.
I had a notice that I was to start on my voyage within “That’s what I think,” said he. “I know that every
a week, and I determined that I would see her once word is true, for you have hardly said a word which I
before I left. Theresa was always my friend, for she did not know. No one but an acrobat or a sailor could
loved Mary and hated this villain almost as much as I have got up to that bell-rope from the bracket, and
did. From her I learned the ways of the house. Mary no one but a sailor could have made the knots with
used to sit up reading in her own little room down- which the cord was fastened to the chair. Only once
stairs. I crept round there last night and scratched had this lady been brought into contact with sailors,
at the window. At first she would not open to me, and that was on her voyage, and it was someone of
but in her heart I know that now she loves me, and her own class of life, since she was trying hard to
she could not leave me in the frosty night. She whis- shield him and so showing that she loved him. You
pered to me to come round to the big front window, see how easy it was for me to lay my hands upon you
and I found it open before me so as to let me into when once I had started upon the right trail.”
the dining-room. Again I heard from her own lips
things that made my blood boil, and again I cursed “I thought the police never could have seen
this brute who mishandled the woman that I loved. through our dodge.”
Well, gentlemen, I was standing with her just inside “And the police haven’t; nor will they, to the best
the window, in all innocence, as Heaven is my judge, of my belief. Now, look here, Captain Croker, this is
when he rushed like a madman into the room, called a very serious matter, though I am willing to admit
her the vilest name that a man could use to a woman, that you acted under the most extreme provocation to
and welted her across the face with the stick he had which any man could be subjected. I am not sure that
in his hand. I had sprung for the poker, and it was in defence of your own life your action will not be
a fair fight between us. See here on my arm where pronounced legitimate. However, that is for a British
his first blow fell. Then it was my turn, and I went jury to decide. Meanwhile I have so much sympathy
through him as if he had been a rotten pumpkin. Do for you that if you choose to disappear in the next
you think I was sorry? Not I! It was his life or mine, twenty-four hours I will promise you that no one will
but far more than that it was his life or hers, for how hinder you.”
could I leave her in the power of this madman? That “And then it will all come out?”
was how I killed him. Was I wrong? Well, then, what
“Certainly it will come out.”
would either of you gentlemen have done if you had
been in my position? The sailor flushed with anger.
“She had screamed when he struck her, and that “What sort of proposal is that to make a man? I
brought old Theresa down from the room above. know enough of law to understand that Mary would
There was a bottle of wine on the sideboard, and be had as accomplice. Do you think I would leave her
I opened it and poured a little between Mary’s lips, alone to face the music while I slunk away? No, sir;
for she was half dead with the shock. Then I took a let them do their worst upon me, but for Heaven’s
drop myself. Theresa was as cool as ice, and it was sake, Mr. Holmes, find some way of keeping my poor
her plot as much as mine. We must make it appear Mary out of the courts.”
that burglars had done the thing. Theresa kept on Holmes for a second time held out his hand to the
repeating our story to her mistress, while I swarmed sailor.
up and cut the rope of the bell. Then I lashed her
in her chair, and frayed out the end of the rope to “I was only testing you, and you ring true every
make it look natural, else they would wonder how in time. Well, it is a great responsibility that I take upon
the world a burglar could have got up there to cut it. myself, but I have given Hopkins an excellent hint,
Then I gathered up a few plates and pots of silver, to and if he can’t avail himself of it I can do no more. See
carry out the idea of a robbery, and there I left them here, Captain Croker, we’ll do this in due form of law.
with orders to give the alarm when I had a quarter You are the prisoner. Watson, you are a British jury,
of an hour’s start. I dropped the silver into the pond and I never met a man who was more eminently fitted
and made off for Sydenham, feeling that for once in to represent one. I am the judge. Now, gentleman of
my life I had done a real good night’s work. And the jury, you have heard the evidence. Do you find
that’s the truth and the whole truth, Mr. Holmes, if it the prisoner guilty or not guilty?”
costs me my neck.” “Not guilty, my lord,” said I.

10
 “Vox populi, vox Dei. You are acquitted, Captain in a year, and may her future and yours justify us in
Croker. So long as the law does not find some other the judgment which we have pronounced this night.”
victim you are safe from me. Come back to this lady

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