No. 5 The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire by Arthur Conan Doyle
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the adventure of_the Sussex vampire

by Arthur Conan Doyle

Holmes had read carefully a note which the last post had brought him . then, with_the dry chuckle which_was his nearest approach to a laugh, he tossed it over to_me .

" for a mixture of_the modern and_the mediaeval, of_the practical and of_the wildly fanciful, i_think this_is surely the limit," said he ." what do_you make of it, Watson ? "

I_read as follows:

46, old Jewry,
Nov .19th .
Re Vampires
sir:
our client, Mr Robert Ferguson, of Ferguson and Muirhead, tea brokers, of Mincing Lane, has_made some inquiry from_us in a communication of even date concerning vampires . as our firm specializes entirely upon_the as- sessment of machinery the matter hardly comes within our purview, and we_have therefore recommended Mr Fergu- son to_call upon you and lay the matter before_you . we_have_not forgotten your successful action in_the case of Matilda Briggs .
we_are, sir,
Faithfully yours,
MORRISON, MORRISON, and DODD .
per E .J .C .

"Matilda Briggs was not the name of a young woman, Watson," said Holmes in a reminiscent voice ." it_was a ship which_is associated with_the giant rat of Sumatra, a story for_which the world is_not_yet prepared . but what do we_know about vampires ? Does it come within our purview either ? anything is better than stagnation, but really we seem to_have_been switched on to aGrimms' fairy tale . make a long arm, Watson, and_see what V has_to say ."

I leaned back and took down the great index volume to_which he referred .Holmes balanced it on_his knee, and_his eyes moved slowly and lovingly over the record of old cases, mixed with_the accumulated information of a lifetime .

" voyage of_the Gloria Scott," he read ." that was a bad business . I_have some recollection that you_made a record of it, Watson, though i_was unable to congratulate you upon_the result . victor Lynch, the forger . venomous lizard or gila . remarkable case, that ! Vittoria, the circus belle .Vanderbilt and_the Yeggman .Vipers . vigor, the Hammersmith wonder .Hullo ! Hullo ! good old index . you_can't beat it . listen to_this, Watson .Vampirism in Hungary . and again, Vampires in Transylvania ." he turned over the pages with eagerness, but after a short intent perusal he threw down the great book with a snarl of disappointment .

" rubbish, Watson, rubbish ! what have we to_do with walking corpses who_can only be held in their grave by stakes driven through their hearts ? it's pure lunacy ."

" but surely," said I, " the vampire was not necessarily a dead man ? aliving person might_have the habit . I_have read, for example, of_the old sucking the blood of_the young in_order to retain their youth ."

" you_are right, Watson . it mentions the legend in one_of_these references . but are we to_give serious attention to such things ? this agency stands flat- footed upon_the ground, and there it must remain . the world is big enough for_us . no ghosts need apply . I_fear that we_cannot take Mr Robert Ferguson very seriously . possibly this note may_be from_him and may throw some light upon what_is worrying him ."

he_took up a second letter which had lain unnoticed upon_the table while he had_been absorbed with_the first . this he began to read with a smile of amusement upon his face which gradually faded away into an expression of intense interest and concentration . when he had finished he sat for some little time lost in thought with_the letter dangling from_his fingers . finally, with a start, he aroused himself from_his reverie .

"Cheeseman's, Lamberley . where is Lamberley, Watson ? "

"lt is in Sussex, south of Horsham ."

" not very far, eh ? and Cheeseman's ? "

" I_know that country, Holmes . it_is full of old houses which are named after_the men who built them centuries_ago . you get Odley's and Harvey's and Carriton's -- the folk are forgotten but their names live in their houses ."

" precisely," said Holmes coldly . it_was one_of_the peculiarities of_his proud, self- contained nature that though he docketed any fresh information very quietly and accurately in_his brain, he seldom made any acknowledgment to_the giver ."I rather fancy we_shall know a good_deal more about Cheeseman's, Lamberley, before we_are through . the letter is, as I had hoped, from Robert Ferguson . by_the_way, he claims acquaintance with_you ."

" with me ! "

" you had better read it ."

he handed the letter across . it_was headed with_the address quoted .

dear_Mr HOLMES [ it said]: I_have_been recommended to_you by my lawyers, but indeed the matter is so extraordinarily delicate that_it_is most difficult to discuss . it concerns a friend for whom I_am acting . this gentleman married some five years_ago a Peruvian lady the daughter of a Peruvian merchant, whom he had met in connection with_the importation of nitrates . the lady was very beautiful, but the fact of her foreign birth and of her alien religion always caused a separation of interests and of feelings between husband and wife, so_that after a time his love may_have cooled towards her and he_may_have come to regard their Union as a mistake . he_felt there were sides of her character which he_could never explore or understand . this_was the more painful as she was as loving a wife as a man could_have -- to all appearance absolutely devoted .

now for_the point which i_will make more plain when we meet . indeed, this note is merely to_give_you a general idea of_the situation and to ascertain whether you_would care to interest yourself in_the matter . the lady began to show some curious traits quite alien to her ordinarily sweet and gentle disposition . the gentleman had_been married twice and he had one son by_the first wife . this boy was now fifteen, a very charming and affectionate youth, though unhappily injured through an accident in childhood . twice the wife was caught in_the act of assaulting this poor lad in_the most unprovoked way . once she struck him with a stick and left a great weal on_his arm .

this_was a small matter, however, compared with her conduct to her own child, a dear boy just under one year of age . on one occasion about a month ago this child had_been left by its nurse for_a_few_minutes .a loud cry from_the baby, as of pain, called the nurse back . as she ran into_the room she saw her employer, the lady, leaning over the baby and apparently biting his neck . there_was a small wound in_the neck from_which a stream of blood had escaped . the nurse was so horrified that she wished to_call the husband, but the lady implored her not to_do_so and actually gave her five pounds as a price for her silence . no explanation was ever given, and for_the moment the matter was passed over . it left, however, a terrible impression upon_the nurse's mind, and from_that_time she began to watch her mistress closely and to_keep a closer guard upon_the baby, whom she tenderly loved . it seemed to her that even as she watched the mother, so the mother watched her, and_that every time she was compelled to leave the baby alone the mother was waiting to_get at it . day and night the nurse covered the child, and day and night the silent, watchful mother seemed to_be lying in wait as a wolf waits for alamb . it must read most incredible to_you, and yet I beg you to_take it seri- ously, for a child's life and a man's sanity may depend upon it .

at last there came one dreadful day when_the facts could no longer be concealed from_the husband . the nurse's nerve had given way; she_could stand the strain no longer, and she made a clean breast of it all to_the man . to him it seemed as wild a tale as it may now seem to_you . he_knew his wife to_be aloving wife, and, save for_the assaults upon her stepson, aloving mother . why, then, should she wound her own dear little baby ? he_told the nurse that she was dreaming, that her suspicions were those of a lunatic, and_that such libels upon her mistress were_not to_be tolerated . while they were talking a sudden cry of pain was heard . nurse and master rushed together to_the nursery . imagine his feelings, Mr Holmes, as he_saw his wife rise from akneeling position beside the cot and saw blood upon_the child's exposed neck and upon_the sheet . with a cry of horror, he turned his wife's face to_the light and saw blood all round her lips . it_was she -- she beyond all question -- who had drunk the poor baby's blood .

so the matter stands . she_is now confined to her room . there_has_been no explanation . the husband is half de- mented . he_knows, and I_know, little of vampirism beyond the name . we had thought it_was some wild tale of foreign parts . and yet here in_the very heart of_the English Sussex -- well, all this_can_be discussed with_you in_the morning . will_you see me ? will_you use your great powers in aiding adistracted man ? if_so, kindly wire to Ferguson, Cheeseman's, Lamberley, and_I_will_be at your rooms by ten o'clock .

yours faithfully,
Robert Ferguson .

P .S .I believe your friend Watson played Rugby for Blackheath when i_was three- quarter for Richmond . it_is_the only personal introduction which I_can give .

" of_course I remembered him," said I as I laid down the letter ." big Bob Ferguson, the finest three- quarter Richmond ever had . he_was always a good-natured chap . it's like him to_be so concerned over a friend's case ."

Holmes looked at me thoughtfully and shook his head .

"I never get your limits, Watson," said he ." there_are unexplored possibilities about you . take a wire down, like a good fellow .' will examine your case with pleasure .' "

" your case ! "

" we_must not let him think that_this agency is a home for_the weak- minded . of_course_it_is his case . send_him that wire and let the matter rest till morning ."

promptly at ten o'clock next morning Ferguson strode into our room .I had remembered him as a long, slab- sided man with loose limbs and a fine turn of speed which had carried him round many an opposing back . there_is surely nothing in life more painful than to meet the wreck of a fine athlete whom one has known in_his prime . his great frame had fallen in, his flaxen hair was scanty, and_his shoulders were bowed . I_fear that I roused corresponding emotions in him .

"Hullo, Watson," said he, and_his voice was still deep and hearty ." you don't look quite the man you_did when I threw you over the ropes into_the crowd at_the old deer park .I expect I_have changed a bit also . but it's this last day_or_two that has aged me . I_see by your telegram, Mr Holmes, that_it_is no use my pretending to_be anyone's deputy ." .

" it_is simpler to deal direct," said Holmes .

" of_course_it_is . but you_can imagine how difficult it_is when_you_are speaking of_the one woman whom you_are bound to protect and help . what can I_do ? how am I to_go to_the police with_such a story ? and yet the kiddies have got to_be protected . is_it madness, Mr Holmes ? is_it something in_the blood ? have_you any similar case in your experience ? for god's sake, give_me some advice, for I_am at my wit's end ."

" very naturally, Mr Ferguson . now sit here and pull yourself together and give_me a few clear answers . I_can assure you that I_am very far from being at my wit's end, and_that I_am confident we_shall find some solution . first of all, tell me what steps you_have taken . is your wife still near the children ? "

" we had a dreadful scene . she_is a most loving woman, Mr Holmes . if ever a woman loved a man with all her heart and soul, she loves me . she was cut to_the heart that i_should_have discovered this horrible, this incredible, secret . she_would not even speak . she gave no answer to my reproaches, save to gaze at me with a sort of wild, despairing look in her eyes . then she rushed to her room and locked herself in . since then she has refused to_see me . she has a maid who was with her before her marriage, Dolores by name -- a friend rather than a servant . she takes her food to her ."

" then the child is in no immediate danger ? "

" Mrs mason, the nurse, has sworn that she will not leave it night or day . I_can absolutely trust her . I_am more uneasy about poor little jack, for, as i_told you in my note, he has twice been assaulted by her ."

" but never wounded ? "

" no, she struck him savagely . it_is_the more terrible as he_is a poor little inoffensive cripple ." Ferguson's gaunt features softened as he spoke of_his boy ." you_would think that_the dear lad's condition would soften anyone's heart .a fall in childhood and a twisted spine, Mr Holmes . but the dearest, most loving heart within ."

Holmes had picked up the letter of yesterday and was reading it over ." what other inmates are there in your house, Mr Ferguson ? "

" two servants who have_not_been

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