No. 7 The Adventure of the Reigate Squire by Arthur Conan Doyle
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the Reigate puzzle

by Arthur Conan Doyle

it_was some_time before_the health of_my friend Mr Sherlock Holmes recovered from_the strain caused by his immense exertions in_the spring of '87 . the whole question of_the Netherland-Sumatra company and of_the colossal schemes of baron Maupertuis are too recent in_the minds of_the public, and_are too intimately concerned with politics and finance to_be fitting subjects for_this series of sketches . they led, however, in an indirect fashion to a singular and complex problem which gave my friend an opportunity of demonstrating the value of a fresh weapon among_the many with_which he waged his life- long battle against crime .

on referring to my notes I_see that_it_was upon_the 14th of April that I received a telegram from Lyons which informed me that Holmes was lying ill in_the hotel Dulong . within twenty-four hours i_was in_his sick- room, and was relieved to_find that there_was nothing formidable in_his symptoms . even his iron constitution, however, had broken down under the strain of an investigation which had extended over two months, during which period he had never worked less_than fifteen hours a day, and had more than once, as he assured me, kept to_his task for five days at a stretch . even the triumphant issue of_his labours could_not save him from reaction after so terrible an exertion, and at_a_time when Europe was ringing with_his name and when his room was literally ankle- deep with congratulatory telegrams I_found him a prey to_the blackest depression . even the knowledge that he had succeeded where the police of three countries had failed, and_that he had outmanoeuvred at every point the most accomplished swindler in Europe, was insufficient to rouse him from_his nervous prostration .

three days later we were back in baker street together; but it_was evident that my friend would_be much the better for a change, and_the thought of a week of spring time in_the country was full of attractions to_me also . my old friend, colonel Hayter, who had come under my professional care in Afghanistan, had now taken a house near Reigate in surrey, and had frequently asked me to_come down to him upon a visit . on_the last occasion he had remarked that if_my friend would only come with me he_would_be_glad to extend his hospitality to him also .a little diplomacy was needed, but when Holmes understood that_the establishment was a bachelor one, and_that he_would_be allowed the fullest freedom, he fell in with my plans and a week after our return from Lyons we were under the colonel's roof .Hayter was a fine old soldier who had seen much of_the world, and he soon found, as I had expected, that Holmes and he had much in common .

on_the evening of_our arrival we were sitting in_the colonel's gun- room after dinner, Holmes stretched upon_the sofa, while Hayter and I looked over his little armoury of eastern weapons .

" by_the_way," said he suddenly, " i_think I'll take one_of_these pistols upstairs with me in_case we_have an alarm ."

" an alarm ! " said I .

" yes, we've had a scare in_this part lately . old Acton, who_is one_of_our county magnates, had his house broken into last Monday . no great damage done, but the fellows are still at large ."

" no clue ? " asked Holmes, cocking his eye at_the colonel .

" none as_yet . but the affair is a pretty one, one_of_our little country crimes, which_must seem too small for your attention, Mr Holmes, after_this great international affair ."

Holmes waved away the compliment, though his smile showed that_it had pleased him .

" was there any feature of interest ? "

"I fancy not . the thieves ransacked the library and got very little for their pains . the whole place was turned upside down, drawers burst open, and presses ransacked, with_the result that an odd volume of Pope's 'Homer,' two plated candlesticks, an ivory letter- weight, a small oak barometer, and a ball of twine are all that_have vanished ."

" what an extraordinary assortment ! " I exclaimed .

"Oh, the fellows evidently grabbed hold of everything they_could get ."

Holmes grunted from_the sofa .

" the county police ought to_make something of_that," said he; " why, it_is surely obvious that--"

but I held up awarning finger .

" you_are here for a rest, my dear fellow . for heaven's sake don't get started on a new problem when your nerves are all in shreds ."

Holmes shrugged his shoulders with a glance of comic resignation towards the colonel, and_the talk drifted away into less dangerous channels .

it_was destined, however, that all my professional caution should_be wasted, for next morning the problem obtruded itself upon us in_such_a_way that_it_was impossible to ignore it, and_our country visit took a turn which neither of us could_have anticipated . we were at breakfast when_the colonel's butler rushed in with all his propriety shaken out of him .

" have_you heard the news, sir ? " he gasped ." at_the Cunningham's sir ! "

"Burglary ! " cried the colonel, with_his coffee- cup in mid- air .

" murder ! "

the colonel whistled ." by Jove ! " said he ." who's killed, then ? the J .P . or his son ? "

" neither, sir . it_was William the coachman . shot through_the heart, sir, and never spoke again ."

" who shot him, then ? "

" the burglar, sir . he_was off like a shot and got clean away . he'd just broke in at_the pantry window when William came on him and met his end in saving his master's property ."

" what time ? "

" it_was last night, sir, somewhere about twelve ."

"Ah, then, we'll step over afterwards," said the colonel, coolly settling down to_his breakfast again ." it's abaddish business," he added when_the butler had gone; " he's our leading man about here, is old Cunningham, and a very decent fellow too . he'll be cut up over this, for_the man has_been in_his service for years and was a good servant . it's evidently the same villains who broke into Acton's ."

" and stole that very singular collection," said Holmes, thoughtfully .

" precisely ."

" hum ! it may prove the simplest matter in_the_world, but all the same at first glance this_is just a little curious, is_it not ? a gang of burglars acting in_the country might_be expected to vary the scene of_their operations, and not to crack two cribs in_the same district within a few_days . when_you spoke last night of taking precautions I remember that_it passed through my mind that_this was probably the last parish in England to_which_the thief or thieves would_be likely to_turn their attention-- which shows that I_have still much to learn ."

"I fancy it's some local practitioner," said the colonel ." in_that case, of_course, Acton's and Cunningham's are just the places he_would go for, since they_are far the largest about here ."

" and richest ? "

" well, they ought_to_be, but they've had a lawsuit for_some_years which_has sucked the blood out of both of_them, I fancy . old Acton has some claim on half Cunningham's estate, and_the lawyers have_been at it with both hands ."

" if_it's a local villain there should_not_be much difficulty in running him down," said Holmes with a yawn ." all right, Watson, I don't intend to meddle ."

" inspector Forrester, sir," said the butler, throwing open the door .

the official, a smart, keen- faced young fellow, stepped into_the room ." good- morning, colonel," said he; " I_hope I don't intrude, but we hear that Mr Holmes of baker street is here ."

the colonel waved his hand towards my friend, and_the inspector bowed .

" we thought that perhaps you_would care to step across, Mr Holmes ."

" the fates are against you, Watson," said he, laughing ." we were chatting about_the_matter when_you came in, inspector . perhaps you_can let_us_have a few details ." as he leaned back in_his chair in_the familiar attitude I_knew that_the case was hopeless .

" we had no clue in_the Acton affair . but here we_have plenty to_go on, and there's no_doubt it_is_the same party in each_case . the man was seen ."

"Ah ! "

" yes, sir . but he_was off like a deer after_the shot that killed poor William Kirwan was fired .Mr Cunningham saw him from_the bedroom window, and Mr Alec Cunningham saw him from_the back passage . it_was quarter to twelve when_the alarm broke out .Mr Cunningham had just got into bed, and Mr Alec was smoking a pipe in_his dressing- gown . they both heard William the coachman calling for help, and Mr Alec ran down to_see what_was the matter . the back door was open, and as he_came to_the foot of_the stairs he_saw two men wrestling together outside . one_of_them fired a shot, the other dropped, and_the murderer rushed across the garden and over the hedge .Mr Cunningham, looking out of_his bedroom, saw the fellow as he gained the road, but lost sight of him at once .Mr Alec stopped to_see if he_could help the dying man, and so the villain got clean away . beyond the fact that he_was a middle- sized man and dressed in some dark stuff, we_have no personal clue; but we_are making energetic inquiries, and if he_is a stranger we_shall soon find him out ."

" what_was this William doing there ? did he say anything before he died ? "

" not a word . he lives at_the lodge with_his mother, and as he_was a very faithful fellow we imagine that he walked up_to_the house with_the intention of seeing that all was right there . of_course this Acton business has put every_one on their guard . the robber must_have just burst open the door-- the lock has_been forced-- when William came upon him ."

" did William say anything to_his mother before going out ? "

" she_is very old and deaf, and we_can get no information from her . the shock has_made her half-witted, but I understand that she was never very bright . there_is one very_important circumstance, however . look at_this ! "

he_took a small piece of torn paper from a note- book and spread it out upon his knee .

" this_was found between_the finger and thumb of_the dead man . it appears to_be a fragment torn from a larger sheet . you_will observe that_the hour mentioned upon it_is_the very time at which the poor fellow met his fate . you_see that his murderer might_have torn the rest of_the sheet from_him or he_might_have taken this fragment from_the murderer . it reads almost as_though it were an appointment ."

Holmes took up the scrap of paper, afac- simile of which_is here reproduced .

d at quarter to twelve learn what maybe

"Presuming that_it_is an appointment," continued the inspector, " it_is of_course aconceivable theory that_this William Kirwan-- though he had the reputation of being an honest man, may have_been in league with_the thief . he_may_have met him there, may even have helped him to break in_the door, and then they may_have fallen out between themselves ."

" this writing is of extraordinary interest," said Holmes, who had_been examining it with intense concentration ." these are much deeper waters than I had though ." he sank his head upon his hands, while the inspector smiled at_the effect which his case had had upon_the famous London specialist .

" your last remark," said Holmes, presently, " as_to_the possibility of there being an understanding between_the burglar and_the servant, and this being a note of appointment from one to_the other, is an ingenious and not entirely impossible supposition . but this writing opens up--" he sank his head into his hands again and remained for some minutes in_the deepest thought . when he raised his face again, i_was surprised to_see that his cheek was tinged with colour, and_his eyes as bright as before his illness . he sprang to_his feet with all his old energy .

"I'll tell you what," said he, " i_should like to_have a quiet little glance into_the details of this_case . there_is something in_it which fascinates me extremely . if_you_will permit me, colonel, i_will leave my friend Watson and you, and_I_will step round with_the inspector to test the truth of one_or_two little fancies of_mine . i_will_be with_you again in half an hour ."

an hour and half had elapsed before_the inspector returned alone .

" Mr Holmes is walking up and down in_the field outside," said he ." he_wants us all four to_go up_to_the house together ."

" to Mr Cunningham's ? "

" yes, sir ."

" what for ? "

the inspector shrugged his shoulders ."I don't quite know, sir . between ourselves, i_think Mr Holmes had_not quite got over his illness yet . he's been behaving very queerly, and he_is very_much excited ."

"I don't think you_need alarm yourself," said I ." I_have usually found that there_was method in_his madness ."

" some folks might say there_was madness in_his method," muttered the inspector ." but he's all on fire to start, colonel, so we had best go out if_you_are ready ."

we_found Holmes pacing up and down in_the field, his chin sunk upon his breast, and_his hands thrust into his trousers pockets .

" the matter grows in interest," said he ."Watson, your country- trip has_been a distinct success . I_have_had acharming morning ."

" you_have_been up_to_the scene of_the crime, I understand," said the colonel .

" yes; the inspector and I_have_made quite a little reconnaissance together ."

" any success ? "

" well, we_have seen some very interesting things .I'll tell you what we_did as_we walk . first of all, we saw the body of_this unfortunate man . he certainly died from a revolved wound as reported ."

" had you doubted it, then ? "

"Oh, it_is as_well to test everything . our inspection was not wasted . we then had an interview with Mr Cunningham and_his son, who were able to point out the exact spot where

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