"What haunted cryp ? "

"Well, sir, an old ruined chapel park so old that nobody could fix its date And under it there's crypt bad name among us It's dark, damp, lonely place by day, but few county the nerve near it at night But master's not afraid He never feared anything life But he doing there night-time ? "

"Wait bit ! " said Holmes "You say another man there It one of your own stablemen, or someone house ! Surely only to spot who and question him ? "

"It's no one "

"How say that ? "

"Because him, Mr Holmes second night Sir Robert turned and passed us -- me and Stephens, quaking bushes like two bunny-rabbits, for bit of moon that night But hear the other moving about behind We afraid of him So we up when Sir Robert was gone and pretended we were just having walk like moonlight, and so we came right on him as casual and innocent please 'Hullo, mate ! you be ? ' says I I guess he heard us coming, so he looked over his shoulder with face he had seen the devil coming out of hell He let out yell, and away he went as hard as lick it darkness run ! -- I'll give him that In minute out of sight and hearing, and who , or what , we never found "

"But you saw him clearly moonlight ? "

"Yes, swear yellow face -- mean dog, say What could he have in common with Sir Robert ? "

Holmes sat for lost in thought

"Who keeps Lady Beatrice Falder company ? " he asked at last

" her maid, Carrie Evans She with her this five years "

" , , devoted ? "

Mr Mason shuffled uncomfortably

"She's devoted enough," he answered at last "But I won't say "

"Ah ! " said Holmes

" 't tell tales out of school "

"I quite understand, Mr Mason , the situation is clear enough From Dr Watson's description of Sir Robert no woman is safe Don't the quarrel between brother and sister may lie there ? "

"Well, the scandal pretty clear "

"But she may not have seen it before suppose that she has suddenly found it out She wants rid woman Her brother will not permit it The invalid, with her weak heart and inability about, has no means of enforcing her will The hated maid is still tied to her The lady refuses , sulks, takes to drink Sir Robert anger takes her pet spaniel away from her all this hang together ? "

"Well, it might do -- as it goes "

"Exactly ! As far as it goes How would all that bear visits by night old crypt ? 't fit that into our plot "

"No, sir, and something more that 't fit in Why should Sir Robert want to dig up dead body ? "

Holmes sat up abruptly

"We only found it out yesterday -- after I had written Yesterday Sir Robert had gone to London, so Stephens and I went down crypt all , sir, except that in one corner was bit of human body "

"You informed the police, I suppose ? "

Our visitor smiled grimly

"Well, sir, it would hardly interest them just the head and few bones of mummy It may thousand years old But it wasn't there before That I'll swear, and so will Stephens It stowed away in corner and covered over with board, but that corner had always been empty before "

"What did with it ? "

"Well, we just left it there "

"That was wise You say Sir Robert was away yesterday Has he returned ? "

"We expect him back to-day "

"When did Sir Robert give away his sister's dog ? "

" just week ago to-day The creature was howling outside the old wellhouse, and Sir Robert was in one tantrums that morning He caught it up, and killed it Then it to Sandy Bain, the jockey, and told him to dog to old Barnes Green Dragon, for he never wished it again "

Holmes sat for in silent thought He had lit the oldest and foulest pipes

" not clear yet what me , Mr Mason," at last "Can't you make it more definite ? "

"Perhaps make it more definite, Mr Holmes," said our visltor

paper pocket, and, unwrapping it carefully, he exposed charred fragment of bone

Holmes examined it with interest

"Where did you get it ? "

" central heating furnace cellar under Lady Beatrice's room It's been off for , but Sir Robert complained of cold and had it on again

Harvey runs it -- he's one lads This very morning which raking out the cinders He didn't like the look of it "

"Nor do I," said Holmes "What make of it, Watson ? "

burned to black cinder, but there no question its anatomical significance

"It's the upper condyle of human femur," said I

"Exactly ! " Holmes had become very serious "When does this lad tend furnace ? "

"He makes it up every evening and then leaves it "

"Then anyone could visit it during the night ? "

"Yes, sir "

" enter it from outside ? "

" one door from outside another which leads up by stair passage Lady Beatrice's room is situated "

"These are deep waters, Mr Mason; deep and rather dirty You say that Sir Robert was not at home last night ? "

"No, sir "

"Then, whoever was burning bones, not he "

"That's true sir "

" the name inn you spoke of ? "

"The Green Dragon "

" good fishing part of Berkshire ? " The honest trainer showed very clearly upon his face that convinced that yet another lunatic had come into his harassed life

"Well, sir, I've heard trout mill-stream and pike Hall lake "

"That's good enough Watson and I are famous fishermen -are we not, Watson ? address us in future Green Dragon reach it to-night not say that we don't you, Mr Mason, but note will , and find you if you When we little farther matter let considered opinion "

Thus it on bright May evening Holmes and ourselves alone in first-class carriage and bound little "halt-on-demand" station of Shoscombe The rack above us was covered with formidable litter of rods, reels, and baskets On reaching our destination short drive took us to an old-fashioned tavern, where sporting host, Josiah Barnes, entered eagerly into our plans extirpation fish neighbourhood

"What Hall lake chance of pike ? " said Holmes

The face innkeeper clouded

"That wouldn't do, sir chance yourself lake were through "

"How's that, then ? "

"It's Sir Robert, sir He's terrible jealous of touts two strangers were as near his training quarters he'd be after you as sure as fate He ain't taking no chances, Sir Robert ain't "

"I've heard he has horse entered Derby "

"Yes, and good colt, too He carries all our money race, and all Sir Robert's bargain " -- he looked at us with thoughtful eyes -- "I suppose you ain't turf yourselves ? "

"No, indeed Just two weary Londoners who badly need some good Berkshire air "

"Well, right place deal of it lying about But mind what told you about Sir Robert He's the sort that strikes first and speaks afterwards Keep clear park "

"Surely, Mr Barnes ! We certainly shall , that was most beautiful spaniel that was whining hall "