by Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes bending over low-power microscope Now he straightened himself up and looked round at me in triumph

" glue, Watson," said he "Unquestionably glue Have look scattered objects field ! "

I stooped eyepiece and focussed vision

"Those hairs are threads from tweed coat The irregular gray masses are dust epithelial scales left Those brown blobs centre are undoubtedly glue "

"Well," , laughing, " prepared your word Does anything depend upon it ? "

" very fine demonstration," he answered " St Pancras case remember that cap was found beside the dead policeman The accused man denies his But picture-frame maker who habitually handles glue "

" one of your cases ? "

"No; my friend, Merivale, Yard, asked me to look case Since I ran down that coiner zinc and copper filings seam cuff begun to realize the importance microscope " He looked impatiently at his watch "I had new client calling, but overdue , Watson, something of racing ? "

"I ought to I pay with about half my wound pension "

"Then I'll make you my 'Handy Guide Turf ' What about Sir Robert Norberton ? Does the name recall anything ? "

"Well, say so He lives at Shoscombe Old Place, and it well, summer quarters were down there once Norberton nearly came within your province once "

"How ? "

" when he horsewhipped Sam Brewer, the well-known Curzon Street money-lender, on Newmarket Heath He nearly killed the man "

"Ah, he sounds interesting ! Does he often indulge way ? "

"Well, he name of being dangerous man most daredevil rider in England -- second Grand National few years back one men overshot their true generation He buck days Regency -- boxer, an athlete, plunger turf, lover of fair ladies, and, by all account, down Queer Street that never find his way back again "

"Capital, Watson ! thumb-nail sketch I seem the man Now, me some idea of Shoscombe Old Place ? "

"Only centre of Shoscombe Park, and famous Shoscombe stud and training quarters are found there "

" head trainer," said Holmes, "is John Mason not look surprised at my knowledge, Watson, is letter which unfolding But some more about Shoscombe I seem struck rich vein "

" the Shoscombe spaniels," said I "You hear at every dog show The most exclusive breed in England the special pride lady of Shoscombe Old Place "

"Sir Robert Norberton's wife, I presume ! "

"Sir Robert has never married Just , , considering his prospects He lives widowed sister, Lady Beatrice Falder "

"You mean that she lives ? "

"No, no The place belonged to her late husband, Sir James Norberton has no claim at all only life interest and reverts to her husband's brother Meantime, she draws the rents every year "

"And brother Robert, I suppose, spends the said rents ? "

" size of it devil of fellow and must lead her most uneasy life Yet heard that devoted to him But amiss at Shoscombe ? "

"Ah, just what And here, I expect, man tell us "

The door had opened page had shown in tall, clean-shaven man firm, austere expression only seen upon those to control horses or boys Mr John Mason had many of both under his sway, and he looked equal task He bowed with cold self-possession and seated himself chair Holmes had waved him

"You had my note, Mr Holmes ? "

"Yes, but it explained nothing "

" too delicate thing the details on paper And too complicated only "

"Well, at your disposal "

"First of all, Mr Holmes, that my employer, Sir Robert, has gone mad "

Holmes raised his eyebrows " Baker Street, not Harley Street," said he "But why say so ? "

"Well, sir, when man does one queer thing, or two queer things, meaning , but when everything is queer, then you begin to wonder I believe Shoscombe Prince Derby have turned his brain "

" colt running ? "

"The best in England, Mr Holmes know, if anyone does Now, I'll be plain , for gentlemen of honour it won't go beyond the room Sir Robert has got to win this Derby He's neck, and it's his last chance Everything raise or borrow is horse -and at fine odds, too ! forties now, but nearer the hundred when he began to back him "

"But how horse is so good ? "

"The public don't know how good Sir Robert too clever touts He Prince's half-brother out for spins 't tell 'em apart But two lengths in furlong when it comes to gallop He thinks of nothing but the horse race His whole life is He's holding off the Jews till then Prince fails him done "

"It seems rather desperate gamble, but where does the madness come in ? "

"Well, first of all, only to look at him I don't believe he sleeps at night down stables at all hours His eyes are wild It has all been nerves Then his conduct to Lady Beatrice ! "

"Ah ! What ? "

" always been the best of friends They had the same tastes, the two , and she loved the horses as Every day same hour drive down them -- and, above all, she loved the Prince prick up his ears when he heard the wheels gravel, and trot out carriage his lump of sugar But that's all over now "

"Why ? "

"Well, she seems lost all interest horses For week now she has driven past the stables with never as 'Good-morning' ! "

" quarrel ? "

"And bitter, savage, spitelful quarrel Why else would he give away her pet spaniel that she loved he were her child ? it to old Barnes, what keeps the Green Dragon, three miles off, at Crendall "

"That certainly did seem strange "

" , with her weak heart and dropsy one couldn't expect that get about , but he spent two hours every evening in her room He might well do what , for she rare good friend to him But that's all over, too He never goes near her And she takes it to heart brooding and sulky and drinking, Mr Holmes -- drinking like fish "

"Did she drink before this estrangement ? "

"Well, she took her glass, but now often whole bottle of an evening So Stephens, the butler, told me It's all changed, Mr Holmes, and something damned rotten But then, again, master doing down old church crypt at night ? And the man that meets him there ? "

Holmes rubbed his hands

"Go on, Mr Mason You get more and more interesting "