by Arthur Conan Doyle/Sherlock Holmes

on bitterly cold and frosty morning, towards the end winter of '97, that awakened by tugging at my shoulder Holmes The candle hand shone upon his eager, stooping face, and told me at glance that something was amiss "Come, Watson, come ! " he cried "The game is afoot Not word ! Into your clothes and come ! "

Ten minutes later we were both in cab, and rattling silent streets way to Charing Cross Station The first faint winter's dawn was beginning to appear, and dimly see the occasional figure of an early workman as he passed us, blurred and indistinct opalescent London reek Holmes nestled in silence into his heavy coat, and glad same, air was most bitter, and neither of us had broken our fast

not until we had consumed some hot tea station and taken our places Kentish train that we were sufficiently thawed, he and I to listen Holmes drew note pocket, and read aloud:

Abbey Grange, Marsham, Kent, 3:30 . M

MY HOLMES:

of your immediate assistance in what promises most remarkable case something quite in your line Except for releasing the lady that everything is kept exactly as found it, but I beg you not to lose an instant, difficult to leave Sir Eustace there

Yours faithfully, STANLEY HOPKINS

"Hopkins has called me in seven times, and on each occasion his summons entirely justified," said Holmes "I fancy that cases has found its way into your collection, and admit, Watson, that some power of selection, which atones for much which I deplore in your narratives Your fatal habit of looking at everything point of view of story instead of as scientific exercise has ruined what an instructive and even classical series of demonstrations You slur over work utmost finesse and delicacy, to dwell upon sensational details excite, but cannot possibly instruct, the reader "

"Why not write them yourself ? " , with some bitterness

" , my dear Watson, At present , , fairly busy, but I propose to devote my declining years composition of textbook, which shall focus the whole art of detection into one volume Our present research appears case of murder "

" this Sir Eustace is dead, then ? "

" say so Hopkins's writing shows considerable agitation, and an emotional man Yes, I gather violence, and body is left inspection mere suicide have caused him to send release lady, it would appear that she locked in her room during the tragedy moving in high life, Watson, crackling paper, `E B ' monogram, coat-of-arms, picturesque address that friend Hopkins will live up reputation, an interesting morning The crime was committed before twelve last night "

"How possibly tell ? "

"By an inspection trains, and by reckoning the time The local police had called in, they had to communicate with Scotland Yard, Hopkins had out, and he in turn had to send All that makes fair night's work Well, here at Chiselhurst Station, and soon set our doubts at rest "

drive of couple of miles through narrow country lanes brought us to park gate, opened by an old lodge-keeper, whose haggard face bore the reflection of some great disaster The avenue ran through noble park, between lines of ancient elms, and ended in low, widespread house, pillared in front fashion of Palladio The central part was evidently of great age and shrouded in ivy, but the large windows showed that modern changes carried out, and one wing house appeared entirely new

The youthful figure and alert, eager face of Inspector Stanley Hopkins confronted us open doorway "I'm come, Mr Holmes And you, too, Dr Watson But, indeed, if I had over again, I have troubled you, for lady to herself, she so clear an account affair not much left You remember that Lewisham gang of burglars ? "

"What, the three Randalls ? "

"Exactly; the father and two sons It's their work doubt of it job at Sydenham fortnight ago and were seen and described Rather cool another so soon and so near, but they, beyond all doubt It's hanging matter "

"Sir Eustace is dead, then ? "

"Yes, his head was knocked in own poker "

"Sir Eustace Brackenstall, the driver tells me "

"Exactlyone richest men in KentLady Brackenstall is morning-room Poor lady, she has had most dreadful experience She seemed half dead when her first you had best see her and hear her account facts Then examine the dining-room together "

Lady Brackenstall was no ordinary person Seldom have I seen so graceful figure, so womanly presence, and so beautiful face She was blonde, golden-haired, blue-eyed, and would the perfect complexion which goes coloring, her recent experience left her drawn and haggard Her sufferings were physical as mental, for over one eye rose hideous, plum colored swelling, which her maid, tall, austere woman, was bathing assiduously with vinegar and water The lady lay back exhausted upon couch, but her quick, observant gaze, entered the room, alert expression of her beautiful features, showed that neither her wits nor her courage shaken by her terrible experience She was enveloped in loose dressing-gown of blue and silver, but black sequin-covered dinner-dress lay couch beside her

" told you all that happened, Mr Hopkins," she said, wearily "Could you not repeat it ? Well, it necessary, tell these gentlemen what occurred Have they been dining-room yet ? "

" they had better hear your ladyship's story first "

" can arrange matters horrible of him still lying there " She shuddered and buried her face in her hands As she did so, the loose gown fell back from her forearms Holmes uttered an exclamation

" other injuries, madam ! What ? " Two vivid red spots stood out on white, round limbs She hastily covered it

" nothing It has no connection hideous business tonight and your friend will sit down, tell you all the wife of Sir Eustace Brackenstall married about year I suppose no use my attempting to conceal marriage happy one that all our neighbors would tell you that, even if I were to attempt to deny it Perhaps the fault partly mine brought up freer, less conventional atmosphere of South Australia, and this English life, with its proprieties and its primness, congenial

"But the main reason lies one fact, notorious to everyone, Sir Eustace was confirmed drunkard man for an hour is unpleasant imagine what it means for sensitive and high-spirited woman tied to him for day and night ? sacrilege, crime, villainy to hold that such marriage is binding monstrous laws of yours will bring curse landGod will not let such wickedness endure " For an instant she sat up, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes blazing from under the terrible mark upon her brow Then the strong, soothing hand austere maid drew her head down on cushion, wild anger died away into passionate sobbing At last she continued: