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younger sister； in the company of a man who appears to be a steward by
his uniform。 I observe that she was unmarried at the time。〃
〃You are very quick at observing。〃
〃That is my trade。〃
〃Well； you are quite right。 But she was married to Mr。 Browner a few
days afterwards。 He was on the South American line when that was
taken； but he was so fond of her that he couldn't abide to leave her for so
long； and he got into the Liverpool and London boats。〃
〃Ah； the Conqueror； perhaps？〃
〃No； the May Day； when last I heard。 Jim came down here to see me
once。 That was before he broke the pledge； but afterwards he would
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The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
always take drink when he was ashore； and a little drink would send him
stark； staring mad。 Ah！ it was a bad day that ever he took a glass in his
hand again。 First he dropped me； then he quarrelled with Sarah； and now
that Mary has stopped writing we don't know how things are going with
them。〃
It was evident that Miss Cushing had come upon a subject on which
she felt very deeply。 Like most people who lead a lonely life； she was
shy at first； but ended by becoming extremely communicative。 She told
us many details about her brother…in…law the steward； and then wandering
off on the subject of her former lodgers； the medical students； she gave us
a long account of their delinquencies； with their names and those of their
hospitals。 Holmes listened attentively to everything； throwing in a
question from time to time。
〃About your second sister； Sarah；〃 said he。 〃I wonder； since you are
both maiden ladies； that you do not keep house together。〃
〃Ah！ you don't know Sarah's temper or you would wonder no more。 I
tried it when I came to Croydon； and we kept on until about two months
ago； when we had to part。 I don't want to say a word against my own
sister； but she was always meddlesome and hard to please； was Sarah。〃
〃You say that she quarrelled with your Liverpool relations。〃
〃Yes； and they were the best of friends at one time。 Why； she went
up there to live in order to be near them。 And now she has no word hard
enough for Jim Browner。 The last six months that she was here she
would speak of nothing but his drinking and his ways。 He had caught her
meddling； I suspect； and given her a bit of his mind； and that was the start
of it。〃
〃Thank you； Miss Cushing；〃 said Holmes； rising and bowing。 〃Your
sister Sarah lives； I think you said； at New Street； Wallington？ Good…bye；
and I am very sorry that you should have been troubled over a case with
which； as you say； you have nothing whatever to do。〃
There was a cab passing as we came out； and Holmes hailed it。
〃How far to Wallington？〃 he asked。
〃Only about a mile； sir。〃
〃Very good。 Jump in； Watson。 We must strike while the iron is hot。
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Simple as the case is； there have been one or two very instructive details in
connection with it。 Just pull up at a telegraph office as you pass； cabby。〃
Holmes sent off a short wire and for the rest of the drive lay back in
the cab； with his hat tilted over his nose to keep the sun from his face。 Our
drive pulled up at a house which was not unlike the one which we had just
quitted。 My companion ordered him to wait； and had his hand upon the
knocker； when the door opened and a grave young gentleman in black；
with a very shiny hat； appeared on the step。
〃Is Miss Cushing at home？〃 asked Holmes。
〃Miss Sarah Cushing is extremely ill；〃 said he。 〃She has been
suffering since yesterday from brain symptoms of great severity。 As her
medical adviser； I cannot possibly take the responsibility of allowing
anyone to see her。 I should recommend you to call again in ten days。〃
He drew on his gloves； closed the door； and marched off down the street。
〃Well； if we can't we can't；〃 said Holmes； cheerfully。
〃Perhaps she could not or would not have told you much。〃
〃I did not wish her to tell me anything。 I only wanted to look at her。
However； I think that I have got all that I want。 Drive us to some decent
hotel； cabby； where we may have some lunch； and afterwards we shall
drop down upon friend Lestrade at the police… station。〃
We had a pleasant little meal together； during which Holmes would
talk about nothing but violins； narrating with great exultation how he had
purchased his own Stradivarius； which was worth at least five hundred
guineas； at a Jew broker's in Tottenham Court Road for fifty…five shillings。
This led him to Paganini； and we sat for an hour over a bottle of claret
while he told me anecdote after anecdote of that extraordinary man。 The
afternoon was far advanced and the hot glare had softened into a mellow
glow before we found ourselves at the police…station。 Lestrade was
waiting for us at the door。
〃A telegram for you； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said he。
〃Ha！ It is the answer！〃 He tore it open； glanced his eyes over it；
and crumpled it into his pocket。 〃That's all right；〃 said he。
〃Have you found out anything？〃
〃I have found out everything！〃
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〃What！〃 Lestrade stared at him in amazement。 〃You are joking。〃
〃I was never more serious in my life。 A shocking crime has been
committed； and I think I have now laid bare every detail of it。〃
〃And the criminal？〃
Holmes scribbled a few words upon the back of one of his visiting
cards and threw it over to Lestrade。
〃That is the name；〃 he said。 〃You cannot effect an arrest until to…
morrow night at the earliest。 I should prefer that you do not mention my
name at all in connection with the case； as I choose to be only associated
with those crimes which present some difficulty in their solution。 Come
on； Watson。〃 We strode off together to the station； leaving Lestrade still
staring with a delighted face at the card which Holmes had thrown him。
〃The case；〃 said Sherlock Holmes as we chatted over or cigars that
night in our rooms at Baker Street； 〃is one where； as in the investigations
which you have chronicled under the names of 'A Study in Scarlet' and of
'The Sign of Four；' we have been compelled to reason backward from
effects to causes。 I have written to Lestrade asking him to supply us with
the details which are now wanting； and which he will only get after he had
secured his man。 That he may be safely trusted to do； for although he is
absolutely devoid of reason； he is as tenacious as a bulldog when he once
understands what he has to do； and indeed； it is just this tenacity which has
brought him to the top at Scotland Yard。〃
〃Your case is not complete； then？〃 I asked。
〃It is fairly complete in essentials。 We know who the author of the
revolting business is； although one of the victims still escapes us。 Of