by Arthur Conan Doyle

When I look three massive manuscript volumes which contain our work year 1894 I confess very difficult , out wealth of material, to select the cases which are most interesting in themselves and same time most conducive to display peculiar powers my friend was famous As I turn over the pages my notes repulsive story red leech terrible death of Crosby the banker Here also an account Addleton tragedy singular contents ancient British barrow The famous Smith-Mortimer succession case comes also within this period, and so does the tracking and arrest of Huret, the Boulevard assassin -- an exploit which won for Holmes an autograph letter of thanks French President Order Legion of Honour Each would furnish narrative, but whole of opinion that unite singular points of interest episode of Yoxley Old Place, which includes the lamentable death of young Willoughby Smith, but also those subsequent developments which threw so curious light causes crime

wild, tempestuous night towards the close of November Holmes and I sat together in silence all the evening, he engaged with powerful lens deciphering the remains original inscription upon palimpsest, I deep in recent treatise upon surgery Outside the wind howled down Baker Street, while the rain beat fiercely against the windows strange there very depths town, with ten miles of man's handiwork on every side of us, the iron grip of Nature, and conscious that huge elemental forces all London was no more molehills that dot the fields I walked window and looked out deserted street The occasional lamps gleamed expanse of muddy road and shining pavement single cab was splashing its way Oxford Street end

"Well, Watson, it's out to-night," said Holmes, laying aside his lens and rolling up the palimpsest "I've done enough sitting trying work eyes as make out nothing more exciting than an Abbey's accounts dating second half fifteenth century Halloa ! halloa ! halloa ! What's this ? "

Amid the droning wind there had come the stamping of horse's hoofs long grind of wheel as it rasped against the kerb The cab which I had seen had pulled up at our door

"What can he want ? " I ejaculated, as man stepped out of it

"Want ! us And we, my poor Watson, want overcoats and cravats and goulashes, and every aid that man ever invented to fight the weather Wait bit, though ! There's the cab off again ! There's hope yet He'd have kept it if he had wanted us Run down, my dear fellow, and open the door, for all virtuous folk long in bed "

light hall lamp fell upon our midnight visitor I had no difficulty in recognising him young Stanley Hopkins, promising detective, in whose career Holmes had shown very practical interest

"Is he in ? " he asked, eagerly

"Come up, my ," said Holmes's voice from above " no designs upon us night "

The detective mounted the stairs, lamp gleamed upon his shining waterproof I helped him out of it while Holmes knocked blaze logs grate

"Now, my dear Hopkins, draw up and warm your toes," said he "Here's cigar, doctor has prescription containing hot water and lemon good medicine on night like this It something important brought you out gale "

" indeed, Mr Holmes I've had bustling afternoon, I promise you Did anything Yoxley case latest editions ? "

"I've seen nothing later fifteenth century to-day "

"Well, only paragraph, and all wrong , so missed anything I haven't let the grass grow under my feet It's down in Kent, seven miles from Chatham and three railway line wired for at three-fifteen, reached Yoxley Old Place at five, conducted my investigation, was back at Charing Cross last train, and straight by cab "

" , I suppose, that quite clear case ? "

"It means that make neither head nor tail of it as just as tangled business as ever I handled, and yet at first it seemed so simple that one couldn't go wrong There's no motive, Mr Holmes That's what bothers me -- 't put my hand on motive Here's man dead -- there's no denying that -- but, as , no reason on earth why anyone should wish him harm "

Holmes lit his cigar and leaned back chair

" hear ," said he

"I've got my facts pretty clear," said Stanley Hopkins "All now is what they all mean The story, as make it out, is like this this country house, Yoxley Old Place, was taken by an elderly man, who gave the name of Professor Coram an invalid, keeping his bed half the time, other half hobbling round the house with stick or being pushed grounds gardener in bath-chair well liked few neighbours who called upon him, and he reputation down there of being very learned man His household used to consist of an elderly housekeeper, Mrs Marker, and of maid, Susan Tarlton These have both been since his arrival, women of excellent character The Professor is writing learned book, and it necessary about year ago to engage secretary The first two that he tried successes; but the third, Mr Willoughby Smith, very young man straight University, seems just what his employer wanted His work consisted in writing all the morning Professor's dictation, and he usually spent the evening in hunting up references and passages which bore 's work This Willoughby Smith has nothing against him either as boy at Uppingham or as young man at Cambridge his testimonials, and first decent, quiet, hardworking fellow, with no weak spot in him at all And yet lad who has met his death Professor's study under circumstances which can point only to murder "

The wind howled and screamed windows Holmes and I drew closer fire while the young inspector slowly and point by point developed his singular narrative

" were to search all England," said he, "I don't suppose find household more self-contained or free from outside influences Whole weeks would pass and not go past the garden gate The Professor was buried work and existed for nothing else Young Smith knew nobody neighbourhood, and lived as his employer did The two women had nothing them house Mortimer the gardener, who wheels the bath-chair, is an Army pensioner -- an old Crimean man of excellent character live house, but in three-roomed cottage other end garden Those are the only people that find grounds of Yoxley Old Place same time, the gate garden is hundred yards main London to Chatham road It opens with latch, and nothing anyone from walking in