〃Why； what do you mean？〃
For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which
fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee。 Five little livid
spots； the marks of four fingers and a thumb； were printed upon the
white wrist。
〃You have been cruelly used；〃 said Holmes。
The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist。 〃He
is a hard man；〃 she said； 〃and perhaps he hardly knows his own
strength。〃
There was a long silence； during which Holmes leaned his chin upon
his hands and stared into the crackling fire。
〃This is a very deep business；〃 he said at last。 〃There are a
thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide upon
our course of action。 Yet we have not a moment to lose。 If we were
to come to Stoke Moran to…day； would it be possible for us to see over
these rooms without the knowledge of your stepfather？〃
〃As it happens； he spoke of coming into town to…day upon some most
important business。 It is probable that he will be away all day； and
that there would be nothing to disturb you。 We have a housekeeper now；
but she is old and foolish； and I could easily get her out of the
way。〃
〃Excellent。 You are not averse to this trip； Watson？〃
〃By no means。〃
〃Then we shall both come。 What are you going to do yourself？〃
〃I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am
in town。 But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train； so as to be
there in time for your coming。〃
〃And you may expect us early in the afternoon。 I have myself some
small business matters to attend to。 Will you not wait and breakfast？〃
〃No； I must go。 My heart is lightened already since I have
confided my trouble to you。 I shall look forward to seeing you again
this afternoon。〃 She dropped her thick black veil over her face and
glided from the room。
〃And what do you think of it all； Watson？〃 asked Sherlock Holmes；
leaning back in his chair。
〃It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business。〃
〃Dark enough and sinister enough。〃
〃Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls
are sound； and that the door； window； and chimney are impassable； then
her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her
mysterious end。〃
〃What becomes； then； of these nocturnal whistles； and what of the
very peculiar words of the dying woman？〃
〃I cannot think。〃
〃When you combine the ideas of whistles at night； the presence of
a band of gypsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor；
the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has an
interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage； the dying allusion
to a band； and； finally； the fact that Miss Helen Stoner heard a
metallic clang； which might have been caused by one of those metal
bars that secured the shutters falling back into its place； I think
that there is good ground to think that the mystery may be cleared
along those lines。〃
〃But what； then； did the gypsies do？〃
〃I cannot imagine。〃
〃I see many objections to any such theory。〃
〃And so do I。 It is precisely for that reason that we are going to
Stoke Moran this day。 I want to see whether the objections are
fatal； or if they may be explained away。 But what in the name of the
devil！〃
The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that
our door had been suddenly dashed open； and that a huge man had framed
himself in the aperture。 His costume was a peculiar mixture of the
professional and of the agricultural； having a black top…hat； a long
frock…coat； and a pair of high gaiters； with a hunting…crop swinging
in his hand。 So tall was he that his hat actually brushed the cross
bar of the doorway； and his breadth seemed to span it across from side
to side。 A large face； seared with a thousand wrinkles； burned
yellow with the sun； and marked with every evil passion； was turned
from one to the other of us； while his deep…set； bile…shot eyes； and
his high； thin； fleshless nose； gave him somewhat the resemblance to a
fierce old bird of prey。
〃Which of you is Holmes？〃 asked this apparition。
〃My name； sir； but you have the advantage of me；〃 said my
companion quietly。
〃I am Dr。 Grimesby Roylott； of Stokes Moran。〃
〃Indeed； Doctor；〃 said Holmes blandly。 〃Pray take a seat。〃
〃I will do nothing of the kind。 My stepdaughter has been here。 I
have traced her。 What has she been saying to you？〃
〃It is a little cold for the time of the year；〃 said Holmes。
〃What has she been saying to you？〃 screamed the old man furiously。
〃But I have heard that the crocuses promise well；〃 continued my
companion imperturbably。
〃Ha！ You put me off； do you？〃 said our new visitor； taking a step
forward and shaking his hunting…crop。 〃I know you； you scoundrel！ I
have heard of you before。 You are Holmes； the meddler。〃
My friend smiled。
〃Holmes； the busybody？〃
His smile broadened。
〃Holmes； the Scotland Yard Jack…in…office！〃
Holmes chuckled heartily。 〃Your conversation is most
entertaining；〃 said he。 〃When you go out close the door； for there
is a decided draught。〃
〃I will go when I have said my say。 Don't you dare to meddle with my
affairs。 I know that Miss Stoner has been here。 I traced her！ I am a
dangerous man to fall foul off See here。〃 He stepped swiftly
forward； seized the poker； and bent it into a curve with his huge
brown hands。
〃See that you keep yourself out of my grip；〃 he snarled； and hurling
the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the room。
〃He seems a very amiable person；〃 said Holmes； laughing。 〃I am not
quite so bulky； but if he had remained I might have shown him that
my grip was not much more feeble than his own。〃 As he spoke he
picked up the steel poker and； with a sudden effort； straightened it
out again。
〃Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official
detective force！ This incident gives zest to our investigation；
however； and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer
from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her。 And now；
Watson； we shall order breakfast； and afterwards I shall walk down
to Doctors' Commons； where I hope to get some data which may help us
in this matter。〃
It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his
excursion。 He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper； scrawled over
with notes and figures。
〃I have seen the will of the deceased wife；〃 said he。 〃To
determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the
present prices of the investments with which it is concerned。 The
total income； which at the time of the wife's death was little short
of L1000 is now； through the fall in agricultural prices； not more
than L750。 Each daughter can claim an income of L250； in case of
marriage。 It is evident； therefore； that if both girls had married；
this beauty would have had a mere pittance； while even one of them
would cripple him to a very serious extent。 My morning's work has
not been wasted； since it has proved that he has the very strongest
motives for standing in the way of anything of the sort。 And now；
Watson； this is too serious for dawdling； especially as the old man is
aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs； so if you
are ready； we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo。 I should be very
much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your pocket。 An
Eley's No。 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen who can twist
steel pokers into knots。 That and a tooth…brush are； I think； all that
we need。〃
At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Leatherhead；
where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove for four or five
miles through the lovely Surrey lanes。 It was a perfect day； with a
bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the heavens。 The trees and
wayside hedges were just throwing out their first green shoots； and
the air was full of the pleasant smell of the moist earth。 To me at
least there was a strange contrast between the sweet promise of the
spring and this sinister quest upon which we were engaged。 My
companion sat in the front of the trap； his arms folded； his hat
pulled down over his eyes； and his chin sunk upon his breast； buried
in the deepest thought。 Suddenly； however； he started； tapped me on
the shoulder； and pointed over the meadows。
〃Look there！〃 said he。
A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope； thickening
into a grove at the highest point。 From amid the branches there jutted
out the gray gables and high roof…tree of a very old mansion。
〃Stoke Moran？〃 said he。
〃Yes； sir； that be the house of Dr。 Grimesby Roylott；〃 remarked
the driver。
〃There is some building going on there；〃 said Holmes； 〃that is where
we are going。〃
〃There's the village；〃 said the driver； pointing to a cluster of
roofs some distance to the left； 〃but if you want to get to the house；
you'll find it shorter to get over this stile； and so by the foot…path
over the fields。 There it is； where the lady is walking。〃
〃And the lady； I fancy； is Miss Stoner；〃 observed Holmes； shading
his eyes。 〃Yes； I think we had better do as you suggest。〃
We got off； paid our fare； and the trap rattled back on its way to
Leatherhead。
〃I thought it as well；〃 said Holmes as we climbed the stile； 〃that
this fellow should think we had come here as architects； or on some
definite business。 It may stop his gossip。 Good…afternoon； Miss
Stoner。 You see that we have been as good as our word。〃
Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a face
which spoke her joy。 〃I have been waiting so eagerly for you；〃 she
cried； shaking hands with us warmly。 〃All has turned out splendidly。
Dr。 Roylott has gone to town； and it is unlikely that he will be
back before evening。〃
〃We have had the pleasure of making the doctors acquaintance；〃
said Holmes； and in a few words he sketched out what had occurred。
Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened。
〃Good heavens！〃 she cried； 〃he has followed me； then。〃
〃So it appears。〃
〃He is so cunning that I never know when I