by Arthur Conan Doyle

never known my friend in better form, both mental and physical, than year '95 His increasing fame had brought with it an immense practice, and guilty of an indiscretion if I were even to hint identity of illustrious clients who crossed our humble threshold in Baker Street Holmes, however, like all great artists, lived art's sake, and, save case Duke of Holdernesse, seldom known him claim any large reward inestimable services So unworldly was he -- or so capricious -- that he frequently refused his help powerful and wealthy where the problem made no appeal sympathies, while devote weeks of most intense application affairs of some humble client whose case presented those strange and dramatic qualities which appealed imagination and challenged his ingenuity

memorable year '95 curious and incongruous succession of cases had engaged his attention, ranging famous investigation sudden death of Cardinal Tosca -- an inquiry carried out by him express desire Holiness the Pope -- down arrest of Wilson, the notorious canary-trainer, which removed plague-spot East-End of London Close heels two famous cases came the tragedy of Woodman's Lee, very obscure circumstances which surrounded the death of Captain Peter Carey No record doings of Mr Sherlock Holmes complete which include some account very unusual affair

During the first week of July my friend absent so often and lodgings that he had something on hand The fact that several rough-looking men called during and inquired for Captain Basil made me understand that Holmes was working somewhere under numerous disguises and names he concealed his own formidable identity He had five small refuges in different parts of London able his personality nothing business , and not my habit to force confidence The first positive sign which he direction which his investigation was taking was an extraordinary one He had gone out before breakfast, and I had sat down to mine, when he strode room, his hat upon his head and huge barbed-headed spear tucked like an umbrella under his arm

"Good gracious, Holmes ! " I cried "You don't mean that walking about London thing ? "

"I drove butcher's and back "

"The butcher's ? "

"And I return with an excellent appetite There no question, my dear Watson, value of exercise before breakfast But prepared to bet that guess the form that my exercise has taken "

" attempt it "

He chuckled as he poured out the coffee

"If looked into Allardyce's back shop seen dead pig swung from hook ceiling, and gentleman shirt-sleeves furiously stabbing at it weapon I energetic person, and satisfied myself that by no exertion strength can I transfix the pig with single blow Perhaps care ? "

"Not for worlds But why were you doing this ? "

"Because it seemed an indirect bearing mystery of Woodman's Lee Ah, Hopkins, I got your wire last night, and expecting you Come and join us "

Our visitor was an exceedingly alert man, thirty , dressed in quiet tweed suit, but retaining the erect bearing of one who was accustomed to official uniform I recognised him at once as Stanley Hopkins, young police inspector for whose future Holmes had high hopes, while he in turn professed the admiration and respect of pupil scientific methods famous amateur Hopkins's brow was clouded, and he sat down with an air of deep dejection

"No, , sir I breakfasted before round I spent the night in town, for up yesterday to report "

"And what had you to report ? "

"Failure, sir; absolute failure "

"You no progress ? "

"None "

"Dear me ! look matter "

" to heavens that , Mr Holmes It's my first big chance, and at my wit's end For goodness' sake come down and lend me hand "

"Well, well, it just happens that already read all the available evidence, including the report inquest, with some care , what make tobacco-pouch found scene crime ? no clue there ? "

Hopkins looked surprised

"It man's own pouch, sir His initials were inside it And of seal-skin -- and he an old sealer "

"But he had no pipe "

"No, sir, find no pipe; indeed, he smoked very little And yet kept some tobacco friends "

" I only mention it because if I handling the case I inclined starting-point investigation However, my friend Dr Watson knows nothing of , and none the worse for hearing the sequence of events once more Just some short sketch essentials "

Stanley Hopkins drew slip of paper pocket

" few dates here which will the career dead man, Captain Peter Carey born in '45 -- fifty most daring and successful seal and whale fisher In 1883 he commanded the steam sealer SEA UNICORN, of Dundee He had then had several successful voyages in succession, and following year, 1884, he retired he travelled , and finally he bought small place called Woodman's Lee, near Forest Row, in Sussex There he has lived for six years, and there he died just week ago to-day

"There were some most singular points man In ordinary life strict Puritan -- silent, gloomy fellow His household consisted wife, his daughter, aged twenty, and two female servants These last were continually changing, for never very cheery situation, and sometimes it became past all bearing The man was an intermittent drunkard, and when he had the fit on him perfect fiend He known to drive his wife daughter out of doors middle night, and flog them park until the whole village outside the gates was aroused by their screams

" summoned once for savage assault old vicar, who had called upon him to remonstrate upon his conduct In short, Mr Holmes, go far found more dangerous man than Peter Carey, and heard that he bore the same character when he commanded his ship known trade as Black Peter, name was given him, on account swarthy features colour huge beard, but humours which were the terror of all around him not say that loathed and avoided by neighbours, heard one single word of sorrow about his terrible end

" read account inquest man's cabin, Mr Holmes; but perhaps your friend here heard of it He had built himself wooden outhouse -- he always called it `the cabin' -- few hundred yards house, and here that he slept every night little, single-roomed hut, sixteen feet by ten He kept the key pocket, made his own bed, cleaned it himself, and allowed no other foot to cross the threshold small windows on each side, which were covered by curtains and never opened windows was turned towards the high road, and light burned at night the folk used to point it out to and wonder what Black Peter was doing in there That's the window, Mr Holmes, which few bits of positive evidence that came out inquest

"You remember that stonemason, named Slater, walking from Forest Row about one o'clock morning -- two days murder -- stopped as he passed the grounds and looked square of light still shining trees He swears shadow of man's head turned sideways was clearly visible blind, and shadow was certainly not that of Peter Carey, whom well It of bearded man, but the beard was short and bristled forwards in way very different captain So , but he two hours public-house, and some distance road window Besides, this refers Monday, crime Wednesday