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and all Sir Robert's into the Bargain。 By the way〃… he looked at us
with thoughtful eyes… 〃I suppose you ain't on the turf yourselves？〃
〃No； indeed。 just two weary Londoners who badly need some good
Berkshire air。〃
〃Well； you are in the right place for that。 There is a deal of it
lying about。 But mind what I have told you about Sir Robert。 He's
the sort that strikes first and speaks afterwards。 Keep clear of the
park。〃
〃Surely； Mr。 Barnes！ We certainly shall。 By the way； that was a most
beautiful spaniel that was whining in the hall。〃
〃I should say it was。 That was the real Shoscombe breed。 There ain't
a better in England。〃
〃I am a dog…fancier myself；〃 said Holmes。 〃Now； if it is a fair
question； what would a prize dog like that cost？〃
〃More than I could pay； sir。 It was Sir Robert himself who gave me
this one。 That's why I have to keep it on a lead。 It would be off to
the Hall in a jiffy if I gave it its head。〃
〃We are getting some cards in our hand； Watson；〃 said Holmes when
the landlord had left us。 〃It's not an easy one to play； but we may
see our way in a day or two。 By the way； Sir Robert is still in
London； I hear。 We might； perhaps； enter the sacred domain to…night
without fear of bodily assault。 There are one or two points on which I
should like reassurance。〃
〃Have you any theory； Holmes？〃
〃Only this； Watson； that something happened a week or so ago which
has cut deep into the life of the Shoscombe household。 What is that
something？ We can only guess at it from its effects。 They seem to be
of a curiously mixed character。 But that should surely help us。 It
is only the colourless； uneventful case which is hopeless。
〃Let us consider our data。 The brother no longer visits the
beloved invalid sister。 He gives away her favourite dog。 Her dog；
Watson！ Does that suggest nothing to you？〃
〃Nothing but the brother's spite。〃
〃Well； it might be so。 Or… well； there is an alternative。 Now to
continue our review of the situation from the time that the quarrel；
if there is a quarrel； began。 The lady keeps her room； alters her
habits； is not seen save when she drives out with her maid； refuses to
stop at the stables to greet her favourite horse； and apparently takes
to drink。 That covers the case； does it not？〃
〃Save for the business in the crypt。〃
〃That is another line of thought。 There are two； and I beg you
will not tangle them。 Line A； which concerns Lady Beatrice； has a
vaguely sinister flavour； has it not？〃
〃I can make nothing of it。〃
〃Well； now； let us take up line B； which concerns Sir Robert。 He
is mad keen upon winning the Derby。 He is in the hands of the Jews；
and may at any moment be sold up and his racing stables seized by
his creditors。 He is a daring and desperate man。 He derives his income
from his sister。 His sister's maid is his willing tool。 So far we seem
to be on fairly safe ground； do we not？〃
〃But the crypt？〃
〃Ah； yes； the crypt！ Let us suppose； Watson… it is merely a
scandalous supposition； a hypothesis put forward for argument's
sake… that Sir Robert has done away with his sister。〃
〃My dear Holmes； it is out of the question。〃
〃Very possibly； Watson。 Sir Robert is a man of an honourable
stock。 But you do occasionally find a carrion crow among the eagles。
Let us for a moment argue upon this supposition。 He could not fly
the country until he had realized his fortune； and that fortune
could only be realized by bringing off this coup with Shoscombe
Prince。 Therefore； he has still to stand his ground。 To do this he
would have to dispose of the body of his victim； and he would also
have to find a substitute who would impersonate her。 With the maid
as his confidante that would not be impossible。 The woman's body might
be conveyed to the crypt； which is a place so seldom visited； and it
might be secretly destroyed at night in the furnace； leaving behind it
such evidence as we have already seen。 What say you to that； Watson？〃
〃Well； it is all possible if you grant the original monstrous
supposition。〃
〃I think that there is a small experiment which we may try
to…morrow； Watson； in order to throw some light on the matter。
Meanwhile； if we mean to keep up our characters； I suggest that we
have our host in for a glass of his own wine and hold some high
converse upon eels and dace； which seems to be the straight road to
his affections。 We may chance to come upon some useful local gossip in
the process。〃
In the morning Holmes discovered that we had come without our
spoon…bait for jack； which absolved us from fishing for the day。 About
eleven o'clock we started for a walk； and he obtained leave to take
the black spaniel with us。
〃This is the place；〃 said he as we came to two high park gates
with heraldic griffins towering above them。 〃About midday； Mr。
Barnes informs me； the old lady takes a drive； and the carriage must
slow down while the gates are opened。 When it comes through； and
before it gathers speed； I want you； Watson； to stop the coachman with
some question。 Never mind me。 I shall stand behind this holly…bush and
see what I can see。〃
It was not a long vigil。 Within a quarter of an hour we saw the
big open yellow barouche coming down the long avenue； with two
splendid； high…stepping gray carriage horses in the shafts。 Holmes
crouched behind his bush with the dog。 I stood unconcernedly
swinging a cane in the roadway。 A keeper ran out and the gates swung
open。
The carriage had slowed to a walk； and I was able to get a good look
at the occupants。 A highly coloured young woman with flaxen hair and
impudent eyes sat on the left。 At her right was an elderly person with
rounded back and a huddle of shawls about her face and shoulders which
proclaimed the invalid。 When the horses reached the highroad I held up
my hand with an authoritative gesture； and as the coachman pulled up I
inquired if Sir Robert was at Shoscombe Old Place。
At the same moment Holmes stepped out and released the spaniel。 With
a joyous cry it dashed forward to the carriage and sprang upon the
step。 Then in a moment its eager greeting changed to furious rage； and
it snapped at the black skirt above it。
〃Drive on！ Drive on！〃 shrieked a harsh voice。 The coachman lashed
the horses； and we were left standing in the roadway。
〃Well； Watson； that's done it；〃 said Holmes as he fastened the
lead to the neck of the excited spaniel。 〃He thought it was his
mistress； and he found it was a stranger。 Dogs don't make mistakes。〃
〃But it was the voice of a man！〃 I cried。
〃Exactly！ We have added one card to our hand； Watson； But it needs
careful playing； all the same。〃
My companion seemed to have no further plans for the day； and we did
actually use our fishing tackle in the mill…stream； with the result
that we had a dish of trout for our supper。 It was only after that
meal that Holmes showed signs of renewed activity。 Once more we
found ourselves upon the same road as in the morning； which led us
to the park gates。 A tall； dark figure was awaiting us there； who
proved to be our London acquaintance； Mr。 John Mason； the trainer。
〃Good…evening； gentlemen；〃 said he。 〃I got your note； Mr。 Holmes。
Sir Robert has not returned yet； but I hear that he is expected
to…night。〃
〃How far is this crypt from the house？〃 asked Holmes。
〃A good quarter of a mile。〃
〃Then I think we can disregard him altogether。〃
〃I can't afford to do that； Mr。 Holmes。 The moment he arrives he
will want to see me to get the last news of Shoscombe Prince。〃
〃I see！ In that case we must work without you； Mr。 Mason。 You can
show us the crypt and then leave us。〃
It was pitch…dark and without a moon； but Mason led us over the
grasslands until a dark mass loomed tip in front of us which proved to
be the ancient chapel。 We entered the broken gap which was once the
porch； and our guide； stumbling among heaps of loose masonry； picked
his way to the corner of the building； where a steep stair led down
into the crypt。 Striking a match； he illuminated the Melancholy place…
dismal and evil…sm