"'How come it ? ' I asked, in surprise

"'When my old tutor used an exercise in trigonometry, it always took the shape of measuring heights When lad I worked out every tree and building estate '

" an unexpected piece of luck My data were coming more quickly than reasonably hoped

"'Tell me,' I asked, 'did your butler ever such question ? '

"Reginald Musgrave looked at me in astonishment 'Now that you call it to my mind,' he answered, 'Brunton did ask me height tree some , in connection with some little argument groom,'

" excellent news, Watson, showed me that right road I looked up sun low heavens, and I calculated that in an hour it would lie just above the topmost branches old oak One condition mentioned Ritual would then be fulfilled shadow elm must mean the farther end shadow, otherwise the trunk chosen guide I had, then, where the far end shadow would fall sun was just clear oak "

" difficult, Holmes, elm was no longer there "

"Well, that if Brunton could , also Besides, no real difficulty I went with Musgrave study and whittled myself this peg, I tied this long string with knot at each yard Then two lengths of fishing-rod, which came to just six feet, and I went back with my client to where the elm The sun was just grazing the top oak I fastened the rod on end, marked out the direction shadow, and measured it nine feet in length

" the calculation now was simple one If rod of six feet threw shadow of nine, tree of sixty-four feet would throw one of ninety-six, line one would the line other I measured out the distance, which brought me almost wall house, and I thrust peg spot imagine my exultation, Watson, when within two inches peg conical depression ground the mark made by Brunton measurements, still upon his trail

" starting-point I proceeded to step, having first taken the cardinal points by my pocket-compass Ten steps with each foot took me along parallel wall house, and again I marked my spot with peg Then I carefully paced off five east and two south It brought me very threshold old door Two steps west meant now that two paces down the stone-flagged passage, and the place indicated Ritual

"Never have such cold chill of disappointment, Watson For moment is seemed that some radical mistake in my calculations The setting sun shone full passage floor, and I old, foot-worn grey stones paved were firmly cemented together, and had certainly not been moved for many long year Brunton at work here I tapped floor, but it sounded the same all over, and no sign of any crack or crevice But, Fortunately, Musgrave, who had begun to appreciate the meaning proceedings, and who was now as excited as myself, took out his manuscript my calculation

"'And under,' he cried ' omitted the "and under "'

"I had thought meant that we were to dig, but now, , at once that wrong ' cellar under this then ? ' I cried

"'Yes, and as old house Down here, door '

"We went down winding stone stair, and my companion, striking match, lit large lantern which stood on barrel corner In an instant obvious that we had at last come true place, we the only people to visit the spot recently

"It used storage of wood, but the billets, which had evidently been littered over the floor, were now piled sides, so leave clear space middle space lay large and heavy flagstone with rusted iron ring centre thick shepherd's-check muffler was attached

"'By Jove ! ' cried my client 'That's Brunton's muffler it on him, and could swear What villain been doing here ? '

"At my suggestion couple county police were summoned present, and I then endeavoured to raise the stone by pulling cravat only move it slightly, and aid of constables that I succeeded at last in carrying it to one side black hole yawned beneath into which we all peered, while Musgrave, kneeling side, pushed down the lantern

"A small chamber about seven feet deep and four feet square lay open At one side of squat, brass-bound wooden box, the lid of hinged upwards, curious old-fashioned key projecting lock furred outside by thick layer of dust, and damp and worms had eaten wood, crop of livid fungi was growing inside of it Several discs of metal, old coins apparently, such as I hold here, were scattered over the bottom box, but it contained nothing else

" moment, however, we had no thought old chest, eyes were riveted upon that which crouched beside it It figure of man, clad in suit of black, who squatted down upon him hams forehead sunk edge box two arms thrown out on each side of it The attitude had drawn all the stagnant blood face, and no man recognised that distorted liver-coloured countenance; but his height, his dress, hair were all sufficient to show my client, when we had drawn the body up, indeed his missing butler He dead some days, but no wound or bruise upon his person to show how he had met his dreadful end When his body carried cellar ourselves still confronted with problem almost as formidable we had started

"I confess that , Watson, I disappointed in my investigation I had reckoned upon solving the matter when once I had found the place referred to Ritual; but now there, and was apparently as far as ever from knowing what which the family had concealed elaborate precautions true that I had thrown light fate of Brunton, but now I had to ascertain how that fate had come upon him, and what part played matter woman who had disappeared I sat down upon keg corner and thought the whole matter carefully over