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7th Fioo r i BEACON STREET, BOSTON i*.^.™
 The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
Copyright, 1003, h.v McClure, Phillips & Co., Copyright, 1803. 1904, 1905, by A. Conan Dojie and Collier's Weekly.

|T was on a bitterly cold and frosty morning, it, but I beg you not to lose an instant, as it is
towards the end of the winter of '97, that difficult to leave Sir Eustace there.
I was awakened by a tugging at my shoulder.
Yours faithfully,
It was Holmes. The candle in his hand
shone upon his eager, stooping face, and told me STANLEY HOPKINS.
at a glance that something was amiss. "Hopkins has called me in seven times, and on
"Come, Watson, come!" he cried. "The game each occasion his summons has been entirely justi-
is afoot. Not a word! Into your clothes and fied," said Holmes. "I fancy that every one of
ccme !" his cases has found its way into your collection,
Ten minutes later we were both in a cab, and and I must admit, Watson, that you have some
rattling through the silent streets on our way to power of selection, which atones for much I deplore
Charing Cross Station. The first faint winter's in your narratives. Your fatal habit of looking
dawn was beginning to appear, and we could at everything from the point of view of a story,
dimly see the occasional figure of an early work- instead of as a scientific exercise, has ruined what
man as he passed us, blurred and indistinct in the might have been an instructive and even classical
opalescent London reek. Holmes nestled in series of demonstrations. You slur over work of
silence into his heavy coat, and I was glad to do the utmost finesse and delicacy, in order to dwell
the same, for the air was most bitter and neither upon sensational details which may excite, but
of us had broken our fast. cannot possibly instruct, the reader."
was not until we had consumed some hot tea
It "Why do you not write them yourself?" I said,
at the station, and taken our places in the Kentish with some bitterness.
train, that we were sufficiently thawed, he to -
"I will, my dear Watson, I will. At present I
speak and I to listen. Holmes drew a note from am, as you know, fairly busy, but I propose to
his pocket, and read it aloud: devote my declining years to the composition of a
Abbey Grange, Marsham, Kent, text-book which shall focus the whole art of detec-
s

tion into one volume. Our present research ap-

3:30 A. M. pears to be a case of murder."
My —
Dea- Mr. Holmes: I should be very glad "You think this Sir Eustace is dead, then?"
of your immediate assistance' in what promises to "I should say so. Hopkins' writing shows con-
be a most remarkable case. It is something quite siderable agitation, and he is not an emotional
m your line. Except for releasing the lady I will
•
man. Yes, I gather there has been violence, and
see that everything is kept exactly as I have found that the body is left for our inspection. A mera
4 MASTERPIECES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
suicide would not have caused him to send for me. Lady Brackenstall was no ordinary person.
As to the release of the lady, it would appear that Seldom have seen so graceful a figure, so woman-
I
she has been locked in her room during the tragedy. ly a presence, and so beautiful a face. She was a
We are moving in high life, Watson, crackling blonde, golden-haired, blue-eyed and would no
paper, 'E. B.' monogram, coat-of-arms, picturesque doubt have had the perfect complexion whica
address. I think that friend Hopkins will live goes with such colouring, had not her recent ex-
up to his reputation, and that we shall have an perience left her drawn and haggard. Her suf-
interesting morning. The crime was committed ferings were physical as well as mental, for over
before twelve last night." one eye rose a hideous, plum-coloured swelling,
"How can you possibly tell?" which her maid, a tall, austere woman, was bathing
"By an inspection of the trains, and by reckon- assiduously with vinegar and water. The lady
ing the time. The local police had to be called in, lay back exhausted upon a couch, but her quick,
they had to communicate with Scotland Yard, observant gaze, as we entered the room, and the
Hopkins had to go out, and he in turn had to send alert expression of her beautiful features, showed
for me. All that makes a fair night's work. Well, that neither her wits nor her courage had been
here we are at Chiselhurst Station, and we shall shaken by her terrible experience. She was
soon' set our doubts at rest." enveloped in a loose dressing-gown of blue and
A drive of a couple of miles through narrow silver, but a black sequin-covered dinner-dress
country lanes brought us to a park gate, which was hung upon the couch beside her.
was opened for us by an old lodge-keeper, whose "I have told you all that happened, Mr. Hop-
haggard face bore the reflection of some great kins," she said, wearily; ""could you not repeat it
disaster. The avenue ran through a noble park, for me? Well, if you think it necessary, I will tell
between lines of ancient elms, and ended in a low these gentlemen what occurred. Have they been
widespread house, pillared in front after the in the dining-room yet?"
fashion of Palladio. The central part was evident- "I thought they had better hear your lady-
ly of a great age, and shrouded in ivy, but the ship's story first."
large windows showed that modern changes had "I .shall be glad when you can arrange matters.
been carried out, and one wing of the house ap- It is horrible to me to .think of him still lying
peared to be entirely new. The youthful figure there." She shuddered and buried her face in
and alert, eager face of Inspector Stanley Hopkins her hands. As she did so, the loose gown fell
confronted us in the open doorway. back from her forearms. Holmes uttered an ex-
"I'm very glad you have come, Mr. Holmes. clamation.
And you, too, Dr. Watson. But, indeed, if I "You have other injuries, madam! What is
had my time over again, I should not have troubled this?" Two vivid red spots stood out on one of
you, for since the lady has come to herself, she the white, round limbs. She hastily covered it.
has given so clear an account of the affair that "It is nothing. It has no connection with this
there is not much left for us to do. You, remember hideous business tonight. If you and your friend
that Lewisham gang of burglars?" will sit down, I will tell you all I can.
"What, the three Randalls?" "I am
the wife of Sir Eustace Brackenstall. I
"Exactly; the father and two sons. It's their have been married about a year. I suppose that
work. I have not a doubt of it. They did a job it is no use my attempting to conceal that our
.

at Sydenham a fortnight ago, and were seen and marriage has not been a happy one. I fear that
described. Rather cool to do another so soon and all our neighbors would tell you that, even if I
so near, but it is they, beyond all doubt. It's a were to attempt to deny it. Perhaps the fault
hanging matter this time." may be partly mine. I was brought up in the
"Sir Eustace is dead, then?" freer, less conventional atmosphere of South
"Yes, his head was knocked in with his own Australia, and this English life, with its proprieties
poker." and its primness, is not congenial to me. But the
"Sir Eustace Brackenstall, the driver tells me." main reason lies in the orte fact, which is notorious
—
"Exactly one of the richest men in Kent — to everyone, and that is that Sir Eustace was a
Lady Brackenstall is in the morning-room. Poor confirmed drunkard. To be with such a man
lady, she has had a most dreadful experience. for an hour is unpleasant. Can you imagine what
She seemed half dead when I saw her first. I it means for a sensitive and high-spirited woman
think you had best see her, and hear her account to be tied to him for day and night? It is a
of the facts. Then we will examine the dining- sacrilege, a crime, a villainy to hold that such
100m together." a marriage is binding. I say that these mon- .

>': •• « " !
v> -T ^v rrl^4? 9 y \ -'jam fflBK^iHi^B

Noli
 THE ADVENTURE OF THE ABBEY GRANGE 5

strous laws of yours will bring a curse upon the and our bedroom above. My maid, Theresa,
—
land God willnot let such wickedness endure." sleeps above my room. There is no one else, and
For an instant she sat up, her cheeks flushed, and no sound could alarm those who are in the
her eyes blazing from under the terrible mark farther wing. This must have been well known
upon her brow.| Then the strong, soothing to the robbers, or they would not have acted as
hand of the austere maid drew her head down on they did.

right, collier's Week 1

J.)
At last she continued: "I will tell you about last night."'

to the cushion, and the wild anger died away into "Sir Eustace retired about half -past ten. The
passionate sobbing. At last she continued: servants had already gone to their quarters. Cnly
"I will tell you about last night. You are aware, my maid was up, and she had remained in her
perhaps, that in this house all the servants sleep room at the top of the house until I needed her
in the modern wing. This central block is made services. I sat until after eleven in this room,
up of the dwelling-rooms, with the kitchen behind absorbed in a book. Then I walked round to see
6 MASTERPIECES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
that all was right before I went upstairs. It was not be necessary for me to go over so painful a
my custom to do this myself, for, as I have ex- story again."
plained, Sir Eustace was not always to be trusted. "Any questions, Mr. Holmes?" asked Hopkins.
I went into the kitchen, the butler's pantry, the "I will not impose any further tax upon Lady
gun-room, the billiard-room, the drawing-room, Brackenstall's patience and time," said Holmes.
and finally the dining-room. As I approached "Before I go into the dining-room, I should J^ke,
the window, which is covered with thick curtains, to hear your experience." He looked at the
I suddenly felt the wind blow upon my face, and maid.
realized that it was open. I flung the curtain aside, "I saw the men before ever they came into the
and found myself face to face with a broad- house," said she. "As I sat by my bedroom
shouldered, elderly man, who had just stepped window I saw three men in the moonlight down
into the room. The window a long French one,
is by the lodge gate yonder, but 'I thought nothing
which really forms a door leading to the lawn. of it at the time. It was more than an hour
I held my bedroom candle lit in my hand, and, by after that I heard my mistress scream, and down.
its light, behind the first man I saw two others, I ran, to find her, poor lamb, just as she says, and
who were in the act of entering. I stepped back, him on the floor, with his blood and brains over
but the fellow was on me in an instant. He caught the room. It was enough *to drive a woman out
me first by the wrist, and then by the throat. I of her wits, tied there, and her very dress spotted
opened my mouth, to scream, but he struck me with him, but she never wanted courage, did Miss
a savage blow with his fist over the eye, and felled Mary Fraser of Adelaide, and Lady Brackenstall
me to the ground. I must have .been unconscious of Abbey Grange hasn't learned new ways. You've
for a few minutes, for when I came to myself, I questioned her long enough, you gentlemen, and
found that they had torn down the bell-rope, and now she is coming to her own room, just with her
had secured me tightly to the oaken chair which old Theresa, to get the rest that she badly needs."
stands at the head of the dining-table. I was so With a motherly tenderness the gaunt woman
firmly bound that I could not move, and a hand- put her arm round her mistress and led her from
kerchief round my mouth prevented me from the room.
uttering a sound. It was at this instant that my "She has been with her all her life," said Hop-
unfortunate husband entered the room. He had kins. "Nursed her as a baby, and came with her
evidently heard some suspicious sounds, and he to England when they first left Australia, eighteen
came prepared for such a scene as he found. He months ago. Theresa Wright is her name, and the
was dressed in his shirt and trousers, with his kind of maid you don 't pick up nowadays. This
favorite blackthorn cudgel in his hand. He rushed way, Mr. Holmes, if you please!"
—
at the burglars, but another it was an elderly The keen interest had passed out of Holmes'
man, stooped, picked the poker out of the expressive face, and I knew that with the mystery
grate, and struck him a horrible blow as he passed. all the charm of the case had departed. There
He fell with a groan, and never moved again. I still remained an arrest to be effected, but what

fainted once more, but again it could only have were these commonplace rogues, that he should
been for a very few minutes during which I was soil his hands with them? An abstruse and learned
insensible. When I opened my eyes I found that specialist who finds that he has been called in for
they had collected the silver from the sideboard, a case of measles would experience something of
and they had drawn a bottle of wine which stood the annoyance.^which I read in my friend's eyes.
there. Each of them had a glass in his hand. I Yet the scene in the dining-room of the Abbey
have already told you, have I not, that one was Grange was sufficiently strange to arrest his at-
elderly, with a beard, and the others young, hair- tention and to recall his waning interest.
less lads. They might have been a father with It was a very large and high chamber, with
his two sons. They talked together in whispers. carved oak ceiling, oaken panelling, and a fine
Then they came over and made sure that I was array of deer's heads and ancient weapons around
securely bound. Finally they withdrew, closing the walls. At the further end from the door was
the window after them. It was quite a quarter of the high, French window of which we had heard.
an hour before I got my mouth free. When I did Three smaller windows on the right-hand side
so, my screams brought the maid to my assist- filled the apartment with cold winter sunshine.
ance. The other servants were soon alarmed, and On the left was a large, deep fireplace, with a
we sent for the local police, who instantly com- massive, overhanging oak mantelpiece. Beside
municated with London. That is really all that the fireplace was a heavy oaken chair with arms
I can tell you, gentlemen, and I trust that it will and crossbars at the bottom. In and out through
8 MASTERPIECES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
the open woodwork was woven a crimson cord, wealth and his title, he very nearly came our way
which was secured at each side to the crosspiece once or twice. There was a scandal about his
below. In releasing the lady, the cord had been drenching a dog with petroleum and setting it on
slipped off her, but the knots with which it had fire —
her ladyship's dog, to make the matter
been secured still remained. These details only —
worse and that was only hushed up, with dif-
struck our attention afterwards, for our thoughts ficulty. Then he threw a decanter at that
were entirely absorbed by the terrible object which maid, Theresa Wright, there was trouble about
lay upon the tiger-skin hearthrug in front of the that. On the whole, and between ourselves, it will
fire. be a brighter house without him. What are you
It was the body
of a tall, well-made man, about looking at now?"
forty years of age.He lay upon his back, his face Holmes was down on his knees, examining with
upturned, with his white teeth grinning through great attention the knots upon the red cord with
his short, black beard. His two clenched hands which the lady had been secured. Then he care-
were raised above his head, and a heavy, black- fully scrutinized the broken ancf frayed end where
thorn stick lay across them. His dark, handsome, it had snapped off when the burglar had' dragged
aquiline features were convulsed into a spasm of it down.
vindictive hatred, which had set his dead face in "When this was pulled down, the bell in the
a terribly fiendish expression. He had evidently kitchen must have rung loudly," he remarked.
been in his bed when the alarm had broken out, "No one could hear it. The kitchen stand*
for he wore a foppish, embroidered night-shirt, right at the back of the house."
and his bare feet projected from his trousers. His "How did the burglar knowxno one would hear
head was horribly injured, and the whole room it? How dared he pull at a bell-rope in that reck*
bore witness to the savage ferocity of the blow less fashion?"
which had struck him down. Beside him lay the "Exactly, Mr. Holmes, exactly. You put the
heavy poker, bent into a curve by the concussion. very question which I have asked myself agairt
Holmes examined both it and the indescribable and again. There can be no doubt that thifc
wreck which it had wrought. fellow must have known the house and its habits.
"He must be a powerful man, this elder Randall," He must have perfectly understood that the serv-
he remarked. ants would all be in bed at that comparatively
"Yes," said Hopkins. "I have some record of early hour, and that no one could possibly hear a
the fellow, and he is a rough customer." bell ring in the kitchen. Therefore, he must have
"You should have no difficulty in getting him." been in close league with one of the servants
"Not the slightest. We have been on the look- Surely that is evident. But there are eight serv«
out for him, and there was some idea that he vants, and all of good character."
had got away to America. Now that we know "Other things being equal," said Holmes, "one
that the gang are here, I don't see how they can would suspect the one at whose head the master
escape. We have the news afevery seaport already threw a decanter. And yet that would involve
and a reward will be offered before evening. What treachery towards the mistress to whom this
beats me is how they could have done so mad a woman seems devoted. Well, well, the point is a
thing, knowing that the lady could describe them, minor one, and when you have Randall you will
and that we could not fail to recognize the descrip- probably find no difficulty in securing his accom-
tion." plice. The lady's story certainly seems to be cor-
"Exactly. One would have expected that they roborated, if it needed corroboration, by every
would have silenced Lady Brackenstall as well." detail which we see before us." He walked to the
"They may not have realized," I suggested, French window and threw it open. "There are no
"that she had recovered from her faint." signs here, but the ground is iron hard, and one
"That is likely enough. If she seemed to be would not expect them. I see that these candles
senseless, they would not take her life. What in the mantelpiece have been lighted."
about this poor fellow, Hopkins? I seem to have "Yes, it was by their light, and that of the lady's
heard some queer stories about him." bedroom candle, that the burglars saw their way
"He was a good-hearted man when he was about."
sober, but a perfect fiend when he was drunk, or "And whatdid they take?"
rather when he was half drunk, for he seldom —
"Well, they did not take much only half a
really went the whole way. The devil seemed to dozen articles of plate off the sideboard. Lady
be in him at such times, and he was capable of Brackenstall thinks that they were themselves so
anything. From what I hear, in spite of all his disturbed by the death of Sir Eustace that they
 THE ADVENTURE OF THE ABBEY GRANGE 9
did not ransack the house, as they would other- .
"Exactly. These three glasses upon the side-
wise have done." board have been untouched, I suppose?"

"No doubt that is true, and yet they drank some "Yes, and the bottle stands as they left it."
rfSKt I understand." "Let us look at it. Halloa, halloa! What is
"To steady their nerves." this?"
10 MASTERPIECES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
The three glasses were grouped together, all of then his doubts would settle down upon him
them tinged with wine, and one of them containing again, and his knitted brows and abstracted eyes
some dregs of beeswing. The bottle stood near would show that his thoughts had gone back
them, two-thirds full, and beside it lay a long, once more to the great dining-room of the Abbey
deeply stained cork. Its appearance and the dust Grange, in which this midnight tragedy had been en-
upon the bottle showed that was no common acted At last by a sudden impulse j ust as our train
.
, ,

vintage which the murderers had enjoyed. was crawling out of a suburban station, he sprang
A change had come over Holmes' manner. He on to the platform and pulled me out after him.
had lost his listless expression, and again I saw an "Excuse me, my dear fellow," said he, as we
alert light of interest in his keen, deep-set eyes. He watched the rear carriages of our train disappear-
raised the cork and examined it minutely. ing round a curve, "I am sorry to make you the
"How did they draw it?" he asked. victim of what may seem a mere whim, but on
Hopkins pointed to a half-opened drawer. In it my life, Watson, I simply cant leave that case in
lay some table linen and a large cork-screw. this condition. Every instinct that I possess cries
"Did Lady Brackenstall say that screw was out against it. It's wrong —
it's all wrong I'll —
used?" swear that wrong. And yet the lady's story
it's

"No, you remember that she was senseless at the was complete, the maid's corroboration was suf-
moment when the bottle was opened." ficient, the detail was fairly exact. What have I
"Quite so. As a matter of fact, that screw was to put up against that? Three wineglasses, that
not used, This bottle was opened by a pocket is all. But if I had not taken things for granted,
screw, probably contained in a knife, and not if I had examined everything with care which

more than an inch and a half long. If you will ex- I should have shown had we approached the case

amine the top of the cork, you will observe that de novo and had no cut-and-dried story to warp
the screw was driven in three times before the my mind, should I not then have found something
cork was extracted. It has never been transfixed. more definite to go upon? Of course I should.
This long screw would have transfixed it and Sit down on this bench, Watson, until a train for
drawn it up with a single pull. When you catch Chiselhurst arrives, and allow me to lay the evi-
this fellow, you will find that he has one of these dence before you, imploring you in the first in-
multiplex knives in his possession." stance to dismiss from your mind the idea that
"Excellent!" said Hopkins. anything which the maid or her mistress may'
"But these glasses do puzzle me, I confess. have said must necessarily be true. The lady's
Lady Brackenstall actually 'jaw the three men charming personality must not be permitted to
drinking, did she not?" warp our judgment.
"Yes; she was clear about that." "Surely there are details in her story which, if
"Then there is an end of it. What more isto we looked at in cold blood, would excite our sus-
be said? And yet, you must admit, that the three picion. These burglars made a considerable haul
glasses very remarkable, Hopkins.
are What? at Sydenham, a fortnight ago. Some account ol
You see nothing remarkable? Well, well, let it them and of their appearance was in the papers,
pass. Perhaps, when a man has special knowledge and would naturally occur to anyone who wished
and special powers like my own. it rather encour- to invent a story in which imaginary robbers
ages him to seek a complex explanation when a should play a part. As a matter of fact, burglars
simpler one is at hand. Of course, it must be a who have done a good stroke of business are,
mere chance about the glasses. Well, good morn- as a rule, only too glad to enjoy the* proceeds in
ing, Hopkins. I don't see that I can be of any peace and quiet without embarking on another
use to you, and you appear to have your case very perilous undertaking. Again, it is unusual for
clear. You will let me know when Randall is ar- burglars to operate at so early an hour, it is un-
rested, and any further developments which may usual for burglars to strike a lady to prevent her
occur. I trust that I shall soon have to congratu- screaming, since one would imagine that was the
late you upon a successful conclusion. Come, sure way to make her scream, it is unusual for
Watson, I fancy that we may employ ourselves them commit murder when their numbers are
to
more profitably at home." sufficient to overpower one man, it is unusual for
During our return journey, I could see by them to be content with a limited plunder when
Holmes' face that he was much puzzled by some- there was much more within their reach, and (

thing which he had observed. Every now and finally, I should say that it was very unusual for
then, by an effort, he would throw off the im- such men to leave a bottle half empty. How do
pression, and talk as if the matter were clear, but all these unusuals strike you, Watson?"
 THE ADVENTURE OF THE ABBEY GRANGE 11

"Their cumulative effect is certainly consider- basis on which his brilliant edifices of deduction
able, and yet each of them is quite possible in it- were reared. Seated in a corner like an interested
self. The most unusual thing of all, as it seems student who observes the demonstration of his
to me, is that the lady should be tied to the chair." professor, I followed every step of that remarkable
"Well, I am not so clear about that, Watson, research. The window, the curtains, the carpet,
for it is evident that they must either kill her or —
the chair, the rope each in turn was minutely
else secure her in such a way that she could not examined and duly pondered. The body of the
give immediate notice of their escape. But at any unfortunate baronet had been removed, and all
rate I have shown, have I not, that there is a else remained as we had seen it in the morning.
certain element of improbability about the lady's Finally, to my astonishment, Holmes climbed up
story? And now, on the top of this, comes the on to the massive mantelpiece. .Far above his
incident of the wineglasses." head hung the few inches bf red cord which were
"What about the wineglasses?" still attached to the wire. For a long time he
"Can you see them in your mind's eye?" gazed upwards at it, and then in an attempt to
"I see them clearly." get nearer to it he rested his knee upon a wooden
"We are told that three men drank from them. bracket on the wall. This brought his hand with-
Does that strike you as likely?" in a few inches of the broken end of the rope, but
"Why not? There was wine in each glass." it was not this so much as the bracket itself which
"Exactly, but there was beeswing only in one seemed to engage his attention. Finally, he
glass. You must have noticed that fact. What sprang down with an ejaculation of satisfaction.
does that suggest to your mind?" "It's all right, Watson," said he. "We have got
"The last glass filled would be most likely to —
our case one of the most remarkable in our col-
contain beeswing," lection. But, dear me, how slow-witted I have
"Not at all. The bottle was full of it, and it is been, and how nearly I have committed the blunder
inconceivable that the first two glasses were clear of my lifetime Now, I think that, with a few miss-
!

and the third heavily charged with it. There ing links, my chain is almost complete?"
are two possible explanations, and only two. One "You have got>your men?"
is that after the second glass was filled the bottle "Man, Watson, man. Only one, but a very
was violently agitated, and so the third glass re- —
formidable person. Strong as a lion witness the
ceived the beeswing. That does not appear prob- blow that bent that poker Six foot three in height,
!

able. No, no, I am sure that I am right." active as a ^squirrel, dexterous with his fingers,
.

"What, then, do you suppose?" finally, remarkably quick-witted, for this whole
"That only two glasses were used, and that the ingenious story is of his concoction. Yes, Watson,
dregs of both were poured into a third glass, so as we have come^upon the handiwork of a very re-
to give the false impression that three people had markable individual. And yet, in that bell-rope, he
been here. In that, way all the beeswing would be has given us a clue which should not have left us a
in the last glass, would it not? Yes, I am con- doubt."
vinced that this is so. But if I have hit upon the Where was the
'

' clue ?
true explanation of this one small phenomenon, "Well, you were to pull down a bell-rope,
if

then in an instant the case rises from the com- Watson, where would you expect it to break?
monplace tojhe exceedingly remarkable, for it can Surely at the spot where it is attached to the wire.
only mean that Lady Brackenstall'and her maid Why should it break three inches from the top, as
have deliberately lied to us, that not one word this one has done?"
of their story is to be believed, that they have "Because it is frayed there?"
some very strong reason for covering the real "Exactly. This end, which we can examine, is
criminal, and that we must construct our case frayed. He was cunning enough to do that with
for ourselves without any help from them. That his knife. But the other end is not fraved. You
is the mission which now lies before us, and here, could not observe that frcm here, but if you were
Watson, is the Sydenham, train." on the mantelpiece you would see that it is cut
The household at the Abbey Grange were much clean off without any mark of fraying whatever.
surprised at our return, but Sherlock Holmes, You can reconstruct what occurred. The man
finding that Stanley Hopkins had gone off to re- needed the rope. He would not tear it down for
port to headquarters, took possession of the din- fear of giving the alarm by ringing the bell. What
ing-room, locked the door upon the inside, and de- did he do? He sprang up on the mantelpiece, could
voted himself for two hours to one of those minute
and laborious investigations which form the solid — —
not quite reach it, put his knee on the bracket you
will see the impression in the dust -and so got his
12 MASTERPIECES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
knife to bear upon the cord. I could not reach the to foment the bruise upon her mistress' brow.
—
place by at least three inches from which I infer "I hope," said the lady, "that you have not
that he is at least three inches a bigger man than I. come to cross-examine me again?"
Look at that mark upon the seat of the oaken "No," Holmes answered, in his gentlest voice,
chair! What is it?" "I will not cause you any unnecessary trouble,
"Blood." Lady Brackenstall, and my whole desire is to
£ "Undoubtedly it is blood. This alone puts the make things easy for you, for I am convinced
lady's story out of court. If she were seated on the that you are a much-tried woman. If you will
chair when the crime was done, how comes that treat me as a friend and trust me, you may find
"mark? No, no, she was placed in the chair after the that I will justify your trust."
Heath of her husband. I'll wager that the black- "What do you want me to do?"
dress shows a corresponding mark to this. We "To tell me the truth."
*have not yet met our Waterloo, Watson, but this is "Mr. Holmes!"
'bur Marengo, for it begins in defeat and ends in —
"No, no, Lady Brackenstall it is no use. Y^u
victory. I should like now to have a few words may have heard of any little reputation which I
with the nurse, Theresa. We must be wary for possess. I will stake it all on the fact that ycwtr
"awhile, if we are to get the information which we story is an absolute fabrication."
iwant." Mistress and maid were both staring at Holmes
She was an interesting person, this stern with pale faces and frightened eyes.
—
Australian nurse taciturn, suspicious, ungracious; "You are an impudent fellow!" cried Theresa.
it took some time before Holmes' pleasant manner "Do you mean to say that my mistress has told
and frank acceptance of all that she said thawed her a lie?"
Into a corresponding amiability. She did not at- Holmes rose from his chair.
tempt to conceal her hatred for her late employer. "Have you nothing to tell me?"
'Yes, sir, it is true that he threw the decanter at
'
"I have told you everything."
me. I heard him call my mistress a name, and "Think once more, Lady Brackenstall. Would
I told him that he would not,. dare to speak so if it not be better to be frank?"
her brother had been there. Then it was that he For an instant there was hesitation in her beauti-
^rirew it at me. He might have thrown a dozen ful face. Then some new strong thought caused
If he had but left my bonny bird alone. He was it to set like a mask.

forever illtreating her, and she too proud to com- "I have told you all I know."
"plain. She will not even tell me all that he has Holmes took his hat and shrugged his shoulders.
done to her. .She never told me of those marks on "I am sorry," he said, and without another word
-her arm that you saw this morning, but I know very we left the room and the house. There was a
well that they come from a stab with a hatpin. pond in the park, and to this my friend led the way.
—
The sly devil God forgive me that I should speak It was frozen over, but a single hole was left for
of him so, now that he is dead ! But a devil he the convenience of a solitary- swan. Holmes gazed
was, if ever one walked the earth. He was all at it, and then passed on to the lodge gate. There
honey when first we met him only eighteen— he scribbled a short note for Stanley Hopkins,
months ago, and we both feel as if it were eighteen and left it with the lodgekeeper.
years. She had only just arrived in London. "It may be a hit, or it may be a miss, but we
—
Yes, it was her first voyage she had never been are bound to do somelhing for friend Hopkins,
from home before. He won her with his title just to justify this second visit," said he. "I will
and his money and his false London ways. If she not quite take him into my confidence yet. I think
made a mistake she was paid for it, if ever a woman our next scene of operations must be the shipping
did. What month did we meet him? Well, I tell office of the Adelaide- Southampton line, which
you it was just after we arrived. We arrived in stands at the end of, Pall Mall, if I remember
June, and it was July. They were married in right. There is a second line of steamers which
January of last year. Yes, she is down in the connect South Australia with England, but we
morning-room again, and I have no doubt she will will draw the larger cover first."
see you, but you must not ask too much of her, Holmes' card sent in to the manager insured
for she has gone through all that flesh and blood instant attention, and he was not long in acquiring
will stand." all the information he needed. In June of '95
Lady Brackenstall was reclining on the same only one of their line had reached a home' port.N
couch, but looked brighter than before. The It ,was the Rock of Gibraltar, their largest and
maid had entered with us, and began once more
1
best boat. A reference to the passenger lisa
 —

THE ADVENTURE OF THE ABBEY GRANGE 13

showed that Miss Fraser of Adelaide, with her who merely took it for a blind, as it were, then

maid, had made the voyage in her. The boat was they would naturally be anxious to get rid of it."
now on her way to Australia somewhere in the
• "But why should such an idea cross your mind?"
south of the Suez Canal. Her officers were the "Well, I thought it was possible. When they
same as in '95, with one exception. The first came out through the French window, there was
officer, Mr. Jack Crocker, had been made a the pond with one tempting little hole in the ice,
captain, and was to take charge of their new ship, right in front of their noses. Could there be a
The Bass Rock, sailing in two days' time from better hiding-place?"
Southampton. He lived at Sydenham, but he "Ah, a hiding-place —
that is better!" cried
was likely to be in that morning for instructions, Stanley Hopkins. "Yes, yes, I see it all now! It
if we cared to wait for him. was early, there were folk upon the roads, they were
No, Mr. Hoirres had no desire to see him, but afraid of being seen with the silver, so they sank
would be glad to know more about his record and it in the pond, intending to return for it when the

character. coast was clear. Excellent, Mr. Holmes that is —

His record was magnificent. There was not an better than your idea of a blind."
officer in the fleet to touch him. As to his charac- "Quite so, you have got an admirable theory.
ter, he was reliable on duty, but a wild, desperate I have no doubt that my own ideas were quite
fellow off the deck of his ship —
hot-headed, ex- wild, but you must admit that they have ended in
citable, bul loyal, honest, and kind-hearted. That discovering the silver."
was the pith of the information with which Holmes
left the office of the Adelaide- Southampton com-
—
"Yes, sir yes. It was all your doing. But I
have had a bad setback."
pany. Thence he drove to Scotland Yard, but, "A setback?"
.instead of entering, he sat in his cab with his brows "YeS, Mr. Holmes. The Randall gang were
drawn down, lost in profound thought. Finally arrested in New
York; this morning."
he drove round to the Charing Cross telegraph "Dear me, Hopkins! That is certainly rather
office, sent off a message, and then, at last, we made against your theory, that they committed a mur-
for Baker Street once more. der in Kent last night."
"No, I couldn't do it, Watson," said he, as we —
"It is fatal, Mr. Holmes absolutely fatal.
re-entered our room. "Once that warrant was Still, there are other gangs of three besides the
made out, nothing on earth would^save him. Once Randalls, or it may be some new gang of which
or twice in my career I feel that I have done more the police have never heard."
real harm by my discovery of the criminal than "Quite so, it is perfectly possible. What, are
ever he had done by his crime. I have learned you off?"
caution now, and I had rather play tricks with "Yes, Mr. Holmes, there is no rest for me until
the law of England than with my own conscience. I have got to the bottom of the business. I sup-
Let us know a little more before we act." pose you have no hint to give me?"
Before evening, we had a visit from Inspector "I have given vou one."
Stanley Hopkins. Things were not going very "Which?"
well with him. "Weil, I suggested a blind."
"I believe that you are a wizard, Mr. Holmes. "But why, Mr. Holmes, why?"
I really do sometimes think that you have powers "Ah, that'sthe question, of course. But I
chat are not human. Now, how on earth could commend the idea to your mind. You might
vow knew that the stolen silver was at the bottom possibly find that there was something in it. You
of that pond?" won't stop for dinner? Well, good-by, and let
"I didn't know it." us know how you get on."
"But you told me to examine it." Dinner was over, and the table cleared before
"You got it, then?" Holmes alluded to the matter again. He had lit
"Yes, got it."
I his pipe and held his slippered feet to the cheerful
**I am
very glad if I have helped you." blaze of the fire. Suddenly he looked at his
"But you haven't helped me. You have made watch.
the affair far more difficult. What sort of burg- "I expect developments, Watson."
lars are they who steal silver, and then throw it "When?"
into the nearest pond?" "Now—within a few minutes. I dare say you
"It was certainly rather eccentric behavior. thought I acted rather badly to Stanley Hopkins
I was merely going on the idea that if the silver just now?"
had been taken by persons who did not want it "I trust your judgment*"
 '

14 MASTERPIECES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

Watson. You must me no more. But the other day I had a notice that I was to start on
"A very sensible reply, my voyage within a week, and I determined that I would see her once
look at it this way: what I know is unofficial, before I left. Theresa was always my friend, for she loved Mary and
hated this villain almost as much as I did. From her I learned the
what he knows is official. I have the right to ways of the house. Mary used to sit up reading in her own little room
private judgment, but he has none. He must downstairs. I crept round there last night and scratched at the win-

In a dow. At first she would not open to me, but in her heart I know that
disclose all, or he is a traitor to his service. now she loves me, and she could not leave me in the frosty night. She
doubtful case I would not put him in so painful whispered to me to come round to the big front window, and I
found it open before me, so as to let me into the dining room. Again I
a position, and so I reserve my information until heard from her own lips things that made my blood boil, and again I
my own mind is clear upon the matter." cursed this brute, who mishandled the woman I loved. Well, gentle-
men, I was standing with her just inside the window, in all innocence
"But when will that be?" as God is my judge, when he rushed like a madman into the *oom,
"The time has come. You will now be present called her the vilest name that a man could use to a woman, and welted
her across the face with the stick he had in his hand. I had sprung
at the last scene of a remarkable little drama."
.

for the poker, and it was a fair fight between us. See here, on my
There was a sound upon the stairs, and our arm, where his first blow fell. Then it was my turn, and I went
through him as if he had been a rotten pumpkin. Do you think I
door was opened to admit as fine a specimen of was sorry? Not I! It was his life or mine, but far more than that,
manhood as ever passed through it. He was it was his life or hers, for how could I leave her in the power of this

a very tall young man, golden-moustached,

blue-eyed, with a skin madman? That was how I killed him. Was I wrong? Well, then,
which had been burned by tropical suns, and a springy
step, which what would either of you gentlemen have done, if you had been in my
showed that the huge frame was as active as it was strong.
He closed position?
clenched hands and "She had screamed when he struck her, and that brought old Theresa
the door behind him, and then he stood with
emotion. down from the room above. There was a bottle of wine on the side-
heaving breast, choking down some overmastering
" Sit down, Captain Crocker. You got my telegram? board, and I opened it and poured a little between Mary's lips, for she
Our visitor sank into an arm-chair, and looked from one
to the other was half dead with shock. Then I took a drop myself. Theresa was
of us with questioning eyes.
as cool as ice, and it was her plot as much as mine. We must make it
u
I heard that appear that burglars had done the thing. Theresa kept on repeating
"I got your telegram, and I came at the hour you said.
vou had been down to the office. There was no getting away from you. our story to her mistress, while I swarmed up and cut the rope of the
Let's hear the worst. What are you going
to do with me? Arrest me.' bell. Then I lashed her in her chair, and frayed out the end of the
Speak out, man You can't sit there and play with me like a cat
!
rope to make it look natural, else they would wonder how in the world
a burglar csuld have got up there to cut it. Then I gathered up a few
^^GtvThim'a cigar," said Holmes. "Bite on that. Captain Crocker, plates and pots of silver, to carry out the idea of the robbery, and there
not sit here I left them, with orders to give the alarm when I had a quarter of an
and don't let your nerves run away with you. I shouldcriminal, you
I dropped the silver into the pond, and made off for Syd-
smoking with vou if I thought that you were a common hour's start.
may be sure of that. Be frank with me and we may do some
good. enham, feeling that for once in my life I had done a real good night's
work. And that's the truth and the whole truth, Mr. Holmes, if it
Play tricks with me, and I'll crush you."
"What do you wish me to do?" costs me my neck."
"To give me a true account of all that happened at the Abbey Holmes smoked for some time in silence. Then he crossed the room,
—
Grange last night a true account, mind you, with nothing
added and
go one inch off
and shook our visitor by the hand.
"That's what I think," said he. "I know that every word is true, for
nothing taken off. I know so much already that if you
the straight, I'll blow this police whistle from
my window and the you have hardly said a word which I did not know. No one but an N

affair goes out of my hands forever." . , .

acrobat or a sailor could have got up to that bell-rope from the bracked
,

The sailor thought for a little. Then he struck his leg with his
great and no one but a sailor could have made the knots with which the cord
sun-burned hand. was fastened to-the chair. Only once had this lady been brought into
"I'll chance it," he cried; "I believe you
are a man of your word, contact with sailors, and that was on her voyage, and it was someone
and a white man, and I'll tell yon the whole story. But one
thing I will of her own class of life, since she was trying hard to shield him, and so
sav first. So far as I am concerned, 1 regret nothing
and I fear nothing, showing that she loved him. You see how easy it was for me to lay my
and I would do it all again, and be proud of the job.
the beast, if hands upon you when once I had started upon the right trail."
all to me But it s "I thought the police never could have seen through our dodge."
he had as many lives as a cat, he would owe them !

the lady Mary— Mary Fraser— for never will I

call her by that ac- "And the police haven't, nor will they, to the best of my belief.
I who would here, Captain Crocker, this is a very serious matter, though
cursed name. When I think of getting her into trouble, Now, look
give my life just to bring one smile to her dear face,
it's that that turns I am willing to admit that you acted under the most extreme provo-

my soul into water. And yet— and yet—what less could Itodo? 1 11 tell cation to which any man could be subjected. I am not sure that in
you my story, gentlemen, and then I'll ask y®u, as man man, what defence of your own life your action wili not be pronounced legitimate.
less could I do? However, this is for a British jury to decide. Meanwhile I have so
_

"I must go back a bit. You seem to know everything, so I expect

much sympathy for you that, if you choose to disappear in the next 24
and I was first hours, I will promise you that no one will hinder you."
that you know that I met. her when she was a passenger
officer of theRock of Gibraltar. From the first day I met her, she was "And then it will all come out?"
more, and "Certainly it will come out."
the only woman to me. Everv day of that voyage I loved her
The sailor flushed with anger.
many a time since have. I kneeled down in the darkness of the night
watch and kissed the deck of that ship because I knew her dear feet had "What sort of proposal is that to make to a man? I know enough
of law to understand that Mary would be held as accomplice. Do you
trod it. She was never engaged to me. She treated me as fairly as
ever a
think I would leave her alone to face the music while I slunk away?
woman treated a man. I have no complaint to make. It was all love
No, sir; let them do their worst upon me, but for Heaven's sake, Mr.
on my side, and all good comradeship and friendship on hers. When
Holmes', find some way of keeping my poor Mary out of the courts."
we parted she was a free woman, but I could never again be a free man. Holmes for a second time held out his hand to the sailor.
"Next time I came back from sea, I heard of her marriage. Well, "I was onlv testing you, and you ring true every time. Well, it is a
why shouldn't she marry whom she liked? Title and money— who great responsibility that I take upon myself, but I have given Hopkins
could carry them better than she? She was born for all that is beautiful an excellent hint, and if he can't avail himself of it I can do no more.
and dainty. I didn't grieve over her marriage. I was not such a selfish See here, Captain Crocker, we'll do this in due form of law. You are
hound as that. I just rejoiced <Hhat good luck had come her way, and the prisoner. Watson, you are a British jury, and I never met a man
that she had not thrown herself away'on a penniless sailor. That's how who was more eminently fitted to represent one. I am the judge.
I loved Mary Fraser.
Now, gentleman of the jury, you have heard the evidence. Do you
"Well, never thought to see her again, but last voyage I was pro-
I find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?"
moted, and the new boat was not yet launched, so I had to wait for a "Not guilty, my lord," said I.

couple of months with my people at Sydenham. One day out in the So

"Vox populi, vqx Dei. You
are acquitted. Captain Crocker.
country lane I met Theresa Wright, her old maid. She told me all about long as the law does not find some other victim you are safe from me.
her, about him, about everything. I tell you, gentlemen, it nearly drove
Come back to this lady in a year, and may her future and yours justify
me mad. This drunken hound, that he should dare to raise his hand to us in the judgment which we have pronounced this night!"
her, whose boots he was nut. worthy to lick! I met Theresa again.

Then I met Mary herself— and met her again. Then she would meet THE END.
 on
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Is the Climax of the Great Sea Story by

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