"Who let you out ? "

" Mrs Porter had gone to bed, so I let himself out I shut the hall door behind me The window room they sat was closed, but the blind was not drawn down no change in door or window , nor any reason that any stranger house Yet there they sat, driven clean mad with terror, and Brenda lying dead of fright, with her head hanging over the arm chair I'll never get the sight room out mind as I live "

"The facts, state them, are certainly most remarkable," said Holmes "I take it that no theory yourself which can in account ? "

"It's devilish, Mr Holmes, devilish ! " cried Mortimer Tregennis " world Something into that room dashed the light of reason from their minds What human contrivance could ? "

" ," said Holmes, "that matter is beyond humanity certainly beyond me Yet exhaust all natural explanations before we fall back theory yourself, Mr Tregennis, I take it you were divided in some way from your family, since they lived together and you had rooms apart ? "

" so, Mr Holmes, though the matter is past and done with We were family of tin-miners at Redruth, but we sold out our venture to company, and so retired with enough us I won't deny that some feeling division money and it stood for time, but all forgiven and forgotten, and we were the best of friends together "

"Looking back evening which you spent together, does anything stand out in your memory as throwing any possible light tragedy ? Think carefully, Mr Tregennis, for any clue which can help me "

" nothing at all, sir "

"Your people were in their usual spirits ? "

"Never better "

"Were they nervous people ? Did they ever show any apprehension of coming danger ? "

"Nothing kind "

" nothing to add then, which could assist me ? "

Mortimer Tregennis considered earnestly for moment

" occurs ," said he at last " sat table my back was window, and my brother George, he being my partner at cards, was facing it him once look hard over my shoulder, so I turned round and looked also The blind was up window shut, but just make out the bushes lawn, and it seemed for moment that something moving among them I couldn't even say man or animal, but I just thought something there When I asked him what looking at, me that he had the same feeling all that "

"Did you not investigate ? "

"No; the matter passed as unimportant "

"You left them, then, without any premonition of evil ? "

"None at all "

" not clear how you came to hear the news so early "

" an early riser and generally take walk before breakfast I had hardly started doctor carriage overtook me me that old Mrs Porter had sent boy down with an urgent message I sprang in beside him and we drove on When we got there we looked into that dreadful room The candles fire burned out hours before, sitting there dark until dawn had broken The doctor said Brenda must dead six hours There were no signs of violence She just lay across the arm chair look on her face George and Owen were singing snatches of songs and gibbering like two great apes Oh, awful ! I couldn't stand it, doctor was as white as sheet Indeed, he fell into chair in sort of faint, and we nearly had him hands "

"Remarkable- most remarkable ! " said Holmes, rising and taking his hat " , perhaps, we had better go down to Tredannick Wartha without further delay I confess that seldom known case which at first sight presented more singular problem "

Our proceedings first morning did little to advance the investigation marked, however, outset by an incident which left the most sinister impression upon my mind The approach spot at which the tragedy occurred is down narrow, winding, country lane, While our way along it we heard the rattle of carriage coming towards us and stood aside to let it pass As it drove I caught glimpse closed window of horribly contorted, grinning face glaring out at us Those staring eyes and gnashing teeth flashed past us like dreadful vision

"My brothers ! " cried Mortimer Tregennis, white lips " taking them to Helston "

We looked with horror black carriage, lumbering upon its way Then we turned our steps towards this ill-omened house they had met their strange fate

large and bright dwelling, rather villa than cottage, with considerable garden already, Cornish air, well filled with spring flowers Towards this garden the window sitting-room fronted, and , according to Mortimer Tregennis, come that thing of evil which had by sheer horror in single instant blasted their minds Holmes walked slowly and thoughtfully flower-plots and along the path before we entered the porch So absorbed was he thoughts, I remember, that he stumbled over the watering-pot, upset its contents, and deluged both our feet garden path Inside the house we were met elderly Cornish housekeeper, Mrs, Porter, who, aid of young girl, looked wants family She readily answered all Holmes's questions She had heard nothing night Her employers had all been in excellent spirits lately, and she had never known them more cheerful and prosperous She had fainted with horror upon entering the room morning and seeing that dreadful company round the table She had, when she recovered, thrown open the window to let the morning air in, and had run down lane, whence she sent farm-lad doctor The lady was on her bed upstairs cared her It took four strong men the brothers asylum carriage not herself stay house another day and was starting that very afternoon to rejoin her family at St Ives

We ascended the stairs and viewed the body Miss Brenda Tregennis very beautiful girl, though now verging upon middle age Her dark, clear-cut face was handsome, even in death, but there still lingered upon it something convulsion of horror which her last human emotion From her bedroom we descended sitting-room, where this strange tragedy had actually occurred The charred ashes overnight fire lay grate table were the four guttered and burned-out candles, cards scattered over its surface The chairs moved back against the walls, but all else was as it the night before Holmes paced with light, swift steps room; he sat various chairs, drawing them up and reconstructing their positions He tested garden was visible; he examined the floor, the ceiling, fireplace; but never once did that sudden brightening eyes and tightening lips which told me that some gleam of light utter darkness

"Why fire ? " he asked once "Had they always fire small room on spring evening ? "

Mortimer Tregennis explained night was cold and damp reason, after his arrival, the fire was lit " you going now, Mr Holmes ? " he asked

My friend smiled and laid his hand upon my arm " , Watson, that resume that course of tobacco-poisoning which so often and so justly condemned," said he "With your permission, gentlemen, now return to our cottage, for not aware that any new factor is likely to our notice here turn the facts over in my mind, Mr Tregennis, and should anything occur certainly communicate vicar meantime you both good-morning "

not until long after we were back in Poldhu Cottage that Holmes broke his complete and absorbed silence He sat coiled armchair, his haggard and ascetic face hardly visible amid the blue swirl tobacco smoke, his black brows drawn down, his forehead contracted, his eyes vacant and far away Finally he laid down his pipe and sprang feet

"It won't do, Watson ! " said he with laugh " walk along the cliffs together and search for flint arrows more likely them than clues problem To let the brain work without sufficient material is like racing an engine It racks itself to pieces The sea air, sunshine, and patience, Watson- all else will come