Holmes was down knees, examining with great attention the knots red cord the lady secured Then he carefully scrutinized the broken and frayed end where it had snapped off burglar had dragged it down

" was pulled down, the bell kitchen rung loudly," he remarked

"No one could hear it The kitchen stands right back house "

"How did the burglar know no one would hear it ? How dared he pull at bell-rope reckless fashion ? "

"Exactly, Mr Holmes, exactly You put the very question which asked myself again and again There fellow known the house and its habits perfectly understood servants would all be in bed comparatively early hour, no one could possibly hear bell ring kitchen Therefore, been in close league with servants Surely evident But eight servants, and all of good character "

"Other things being equal," said Holmes, "one would suspect the one at whose head the master threw decanter And yet involve treachery towards the mistress this woman seems devoted Well, well, the point is minor one, and have Randall probably find no difficulty in securing his accomplice The lady's story certainly corroborated, needed corroboration, by every detail which we see " He walked French window and threw it open " no signs here, but the ground is iron hard, and one expect them candles mantelpiece lighted "

"Yes, by their light lady's bedroom candle, burglars saw their way about "

"And what did they take ? "

"Well, take muchonly half dozen articles of plate off the sideboard Lady Brackenstall thinks were themselves so disturbed death of Sir Eustace that ransack the house, as otherwise "

" true, and yet they drank some wine, I understand "

"To steady their nerves "

"Exactly These three glasses sideboard untouched, I suppose ? "

"Yes, bottle stands left it "

" look at it Halloa, halloa ! What ? "

The three glasses were grouped together, all tinged with wine, and containing some dregs of beeswing The bottle stood near them, two-thirds full, and beside it lay long, deeply stained cork Its appearance dust bottle showed no common vintage which the murderers had enjoyed

change had come over Holmes's manner He had lost his listless expression, and again an alert light of interest keen, deep-set eyes He raised the cork and examined it minutely

"How did they draw it ? " he asked

Hopkins pointed to half-opened drawer lay some table linen and large corkscrew

"Did Lady Brackenstall say that screw was used ? "

"No, you remember that she was senseless moment bottle was opened "

"Quite so As matter of fact, that screw was not used This bottle was opened by pocket screw, probably contained in knife, and not more than an inch and half long examine the top cork, observe screw was driven in three times cork was extracted It has never been transfixed This long screw transfixed it and drawn it up with single pull catch this fellow, that he has multiplex knives possession "

"Excellent ! " said Hopkins

"But these glasses do puzzle me, I confess Lady Brackenstall actually SAW the three men drinking, did she not ? "

"Yes; she was clear "

"Then an end of it What more said ? And yet, admit, three glasses are very remarkable, Hopkins What ? nothing remarkable ? Well, well, let it pass Perhaps, when man has special knowledge and special powers like my own, it rather encourages him to seek complex explanation when simpler one is at hand , it mere chance glasses Well, good-morning, Hopkins I don't see that of any use , and you appear your case very clear let me know when Randall is arrested, and any further developments occur I trust that soon have to congratulate you upon successful conclusion Come, Watson, I fancy that employ ourselves more profitably at home "

During our return journey, I by Holmes's face that much puzzled by something which he had observed Every , by an effort, throw off the impression, and talk as matter were clear, but then his doubts would settle down upon him again, knitted brows and abstracted eyes would show that his thoughts had gone back once more great dining-room Abbey Grange, this midnight tragedy enacted At last, by sudden impulse, just as our train was crawling out of suburban station, he sprang on platform and pulled me out after him

"Excuse me, my dear fellow," said he, watched the rear carriages train disappearing round curve, " sorry you the victim of what may seem mere whim, but on my life, Watson, I simply CAN'T leave that case condition Every instinct that I possess cries out against it It's wrong it's all wrongI'll swear 's wrong And yet the lady's story was complete, the maid's corroboration was sufficient, the detail was fairly exact What have I up against that ? Three wineglasses, all But if I taken things for granted, if I had examined everything with care which shown had we approached the case DE NOVO and had no cut-and-dried story to warp my mind, should I not then have found something more definite upon ? Sit down bench, Watson, until train for Chiselhurst arrives, and allow me to lay the evidence , imploring you first instance to dismiss from your mind the idea that anything which the maid or her mistress said must necessarily be true The lady's charming personality must not be permitted to warp our judgment

"Surely details in her story which, looked at in cold blood, would excite our suspicion These burglars made considerable haul at Sydenham fortnight ago Some account and appearance was papers, and would naturally occur to anyone who wished to invent story imaginary robbers should play part As matter of fact, burglars good stroke of business are, as rule, only too glad to enjoy the proceeds in peace and quiet without embarking on another perilous undertaking Again, unusual for burglars to operate at so early an hour, unusual for burglars to strike lady her screaming, since one would imagine that sure way her scream, unusual to commit murder when their numbers are sufficient to overpower one man, unusual content with limited plunder when much more within their reach, and finally, say, very unusual for such men to leave bottle half empty How do all these unusuals strike you, Watson ? "

"Their cumulative effect is certainly considerable, and yet each is quite possible in itself The most unusual thing of all, as it seems , is lady tied chair "

"Well, not so clear , Watson, is evident that either kill her or else secure her that give immediate notice escape But at any rate shown, have I not, certain element of improbability lady's story ? And now, top , comes the incident wineglasses "

"What wineglasses ? "

" see them in your mind's eye ? "

" them clearly "

" told that three men drank Does that strike you as likely ? "

" ? wine in each glass "

"Exactly, but beeswing only in one glass noticed that fact What does that suggest to your mind ? "

"The last glass filled most likely to contain beeswing "