No. 11 The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place by Arthur Conan Doyle
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dog to old Barnes at_the green dragon, for he never wished to_see it again ."

Holmes sat for some_time in silent thought . he had lit the oldest and foulest of_his pipes .

" I_am not clear yet what you_want me to_do in_this_matter, Mr mason," he_said at last ." can't you make it more definite ? "

" perhaps this_will make it more definite, Mr Holmes," said our visltor .

he_took a paper from_his pocket, and, unwrapping it carefully, he exposed a charred fragment of bone .

Holmes examined it with interest .

" where did you get it ? "

" there_is a central heating furnace in_the cellar under lady Beatrice's room . it's been off for some_time, but sir Robert complained of cold and had it on again .

Harvey runs it -- he's one of_my lads . this very morning he_came to_me with_this which he_found raking out the cinders . he didn't like the look of it ."

" nor do I," said Holmes ." what do_you make of it, Watson ? "

it_was burned to a black cinder, but there could_be no question as_to its anatomical significance .

" it's the upper condyle of a human femur," said I .

" exactly ! " Holmes had become very serious ." when does this lad tend to_the furnace ? "

" he makes it up every evening and then leaves it ."

" then anyone could visit it during the night ? "

" yes, sir ."

" can_you enter it from outside ? "

" there_is one door from outside . there_is another which leads up by a stair to_the passage in_which lady Beatrice's room is situated ."

" these are deep waters, Mr mason; deep and rather dirty . you say that sir Robert was not at home last night ? "

" no, sir ."

" then, whoever was burning bones, it_was not he ."

" that's true . sir ."

" what_is the name of_that inn you spoke of ? "

" the green dragon ."

" is_there good fishing in_that part of Berkshire ? " the honest trainer showed very clearly upon his face that he_was convinced that yet another lunatic had come into his harassed life .

" well, sir, I've heard there_are trout in_the mill- stream and pike in_the hall lake ."

" that's good enough .Watson and I are famous fishermen - are we not, Watson ? you_may address us in future at_the green dragon . we_should reach it to- night . I_need not say that we don't want_to_see you, Mr mason, but a note will reach_us, and no_doubt I_could find you if i_want you . when we have_gone a little farther into_the matter i_will let you_have a considered opinion ."

thus it was_that on a bright may evening Holmes and I_found ourselves alone in a first- class carriage and bound for_the little " halt- on- demand" station of Shoscombe . the rack above us was covered with a formidable litter of rods, reels, and baskets . on reaching our destination a short drive took us to an old- fashioned tavern, where asporting host, Josiah Barnes, entered eagerly into our plans for_the extirpation of_the fish of_the neighbourhood .

" what about_the hall lake and_the chance of a pike ? " said Holmes .

the face of_the innkeeper clouded .

" that wouldn't do, sir . you_might chance to_find yourself in_the lake before_you were through ."

" how's that, then ? "

" it's sir Robert, sir . he's terrible jealous of touts . if_you two strangers were as near his training quarters as_that he'd be after you as sure as fate . he ain't taking no chances, sir Robert ain't ."

"I've heard he has a horse entered for_the derby ."

" yes, and a good colt, too . he carries all our money for_the race, 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 ajiffy 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 avaguely 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 adaring 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 ? "

"Wel], 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 unconcemedly 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 grass-lands until a dark mass loomed up 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

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