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…smelling； with ancient crumbling walls of rough…hewn
stone； and piles of coffins； some of lead and some of stone； extending
upon one side right up to the arched and groined roof which lost
itself in the shadows above our heads。 Holmes had lit his lantern；
which shot a tiny tunnel of vivid yellow light upon the mournful
scene。 Its rays were reflected back from the coffin…plates； many of
them adorned with the griffin and coronet of this old family which
carried its honours even to the gate of Death。
〃You spoke of some bones； Mr。 Mason。 Could you show them before
you go？〃
〃They are here in this corner。〃 The trainer strode across and then
stood in silent surprise as our light was turned upon the place。 〃They
are gone；〃 said he。
〃So I expected；〃 said Holmes； chuckling。 〃I fancy the ashes of
them might even now be found in that oven which had already consumed a
part。〃
〃But why in the world would anyone want to burn the bones of a man
who has been dead a thousand years？〃 asked John Mason。
〃That is what we are here to find out；〃 said Holmes。 〃It may mean
a long search； and we need not detain you。 I fancy that we shall get
our solution before morning。〃
When John Mason had left us； Holmes set to work making a very
careful examination of the graves； ranging from a very ancient one；
which appeared to be Saxon； in the centre； through a long line of
Norman Hugos and Odos； until we reached the Sir William and Sir
Denis Falder of the eighteenth century。 It was an hour or more
before Holmes came to a leaden coffin standing on end before the
entrance to the vault。 I heard his little cry of satisfaction and
was aware from his hurried but purposeful movements that he had
reached a goal。 With his lens he was eagerly examining the edges of
the heavy lid。 Then he drew from his pocket a short jemmy； a
box…opener； which he thrust into a chink； levering back the whole
front； which seemed to be secured by only a couple of clamps。 There
was a rending； tearing sound as it gave way； but it had hardly
hinged back and partly revealed the contents before we had an
unforeseen interruption。
Someone was walking in the chapel above。 It was the firm； rapid step
of one who came with a definite purpose and knew； well the ground upon
which he walked。 A light streamed down the stairs； and an instant
later the man who bore it was framed in the Gothic archway。 He was a
terrible figure； huge in stature and fierce in manner。 A large
stable…lantern which he field in front of him shone upward upon a
strong； heavily moustached face and angry eyes； which glared round him
into every recess of the vault； finally fixing themselves with a
deadly stare upon my companion and myself。
〃Who the； devil are you？〃 he thundered。 〃And what are you doing upon
my property？〃 Then； as Holmes returned no answer； he took a couple
of steps forward and raised a heavy stick which he carried。 〃Do you
hear me？〃 he cried。 〃Who are you？ What are you doing here？〃 His cudgel
quivered in the air。
But instead of shrinking Holmes advanced to meet him。
〃I also have a question to ask you； Sir Robert；〃 he said in his
sternest tone。 〃Who is this？ And what is it doing here？〃
He turned and tore open the coffin…lid behind him。 In the glare of
the lantern I saw a body swathed in a sheet from head to foot； with
dreadful； witchlike features； all nose and chin； projecting at one
end； the dim； glazed eyes staring from a discoloured and crumbling
face。
The baronet had staggered back with a cry and supported himself
against a stone sarcophagus。
〃How came you to know of this？〃 he cried。 And then； with some return
of his truculent mariner： 〃What business is it of yours？〃
〃My name is Sherlock Holmes；〃 said my companion。 〃Possibly it is
familiar to you。 In any case； my business is that of every other
good citizen… to uphold the law。 It seems to me that you have much
to answer for。〃
Sir Robert glared for a moment； but Holmes's quiet voice and cool；
assured manner had their effect。
〃'Fore God； Mr。 Holmes； it's all right；〃 said he。 〃Appearances are
against me； I'll admit； but I could act no otherwise。〃
〃I should be happy to think so； but I fear your explanations must be
before the police。〃
Sir Robert shrugged his broad shoulders。
〃Well； if it must be； it must。 Come up to the house and you can
judge for yourself how the matter stands。〃
A quarter of an hour later we found ourselves in what I judge；
from the lines of polished barrels behind glass covers； to be the
gun…room of the old house。 It was comfortably furnished； and here
Sir Robert left us for a few moments。 When he returned he had two
companions with him； the one； the florid young woman whom we had
seen in the carriage； the other； a small rat…faced man with a
disagreeably furtive manner。 These two wore an appearance of utter
bewilderment； which showed that the baronet had not yet had time to
explain to them the turn events had taken。
〃There；〃 said Sir Robert with a wave of his hand； 〃are Mr。 and
Mrs。 Norlett。 Mrs。 Norlett； under her maiden name of Evans； has for
some years been my sister's confidential maid。 I have brought them
here because I feel that my best course is to explain the true
position to you； and they are the two people upon earth who can
substantiate what I say。〃
〃Is this necessary； Sir Robert？ Have you thought what you are
doing？〃 cried the woman。
〃As to me； I entirely disclaim all responsibility；〃 said her
husband。
Sir Robert gave him a glance of contempt。 〃I will take all
responsibility；〃 said he。 〃Now； Mr。 Holmes； listen to a plain
statement of the facts。
〃You have clearly gone pretty deeply into my affairs or I should not
have found you where I did。 Therefore； you know already； in all
probability； that I am running a dark horse for the Derby and that
everything depends upon my success。 If I win； all is easy。 If I
lose… well； I dare not think of that！〃
〃I understand the position；〃 said Holmes。
〃I am dependent upon my sister； Lady Beatrice； for every