by Arthur Conan Doyle

Holmes had read carefully note which the last post had brought him Then, dry chuckle his nearest approach to laugh, he tossed it over

"For mixture modern mediaeval, practical and wildly fanciful, surely the limit," said he "What make of it, Watson ? "

as follows:

46, OLD JEWRY,
Nov 19th
Re Vampires
SIR:
Our client, Mr Robert Ferguson, of Ferguson and Muirhead, tea brokers, of Mincing Lane, some inquiry in communication of even date concerning vampires As our firm specializes entirely as- sessment of machinery the matter hardly comes within our purview, and therefore recommended Mr Fergu- son upon you and lay the matter forgotten your successful action case of Matilda Briggs
, sir,
Faithfully yours,
MORRISON, MORRISON, AND DODD
per E J C

"Matilda Briggs was not the name of young woman, Watson," said Holmes in reminiscent voice " ship associated giant rat of Sumatra, story the world prepared But what do about vampires ? Does it come within our purview either ? Anything is better than stagnation, but really we seem switched on to Grimms' fairy tale Make long arm, Watson, what V has "

I leaned back and took down the great index volume he referred Holmes balanced it knee, eyes moved slowly and lovingly over the record of old cases, mixed accumulated information of lifetime

"Voyage Gloria Scott," he read "That was bad business some recollection that record of it, Watson, though unable to congratulate you result Victor Lynch, the forger Venomous lizard or gila Remarkable case, that ! Vittoria, the circus belle Vanderbilt Yeggman Vipers Vigor, the Hammersmith wonder Hullo ! Hullo ! Good old index 't beat it Listen , Watson Vampirism in Hungary And again, Vampires in Transylvania " He turned over the pages with eagerness, but after short intent perusal he threw down the great book with snarl of disappointment

"Rubbish, Watson, rubbish ! What have we with walking corpses only be held in their grave by stakes driven through their hearts ? It's pure lunacy "

"But surely," said I, "the vampire was not necessarily dead man ? living person the habit read, for example, old sucking the blood young to retain their youth "

" right, Watson It mentions the legend in references But are we serious attention to such things ? This agency stands flat-footed ground, and there it must remain The world is big enough No ghosts need apply that take Mr Robert Ferguson very seriously Possibly this note and may throw some light upon worrying him "

up second letter which had lain unnoticed table while he absorbed first This he began to read with smile of amusement upon his face which gradually faded away into an expression of intense interest and concentration When he had finished he sat for some little time lost in thought letter dangling fingers Finally, with start, he aroused himself reverie

"Cheeseman's, Lamberley Where is Lamberley, Watson ? "

"lt is in Sussex, South of Horsham "

"Not very far, eh ? And Cheeseman's ? "

" that country, Holmes full of old houses which are named men who built them You get Odley's and Harvey's and Carriton's -- the folk are forgotten but their names live in their houses "

"Precisely," said Holmes coldly peculiarities proud, self-contained nature that though he docketed any fresh information very quietly and accurately brain, he seldom made any acknowledgment giver "I rather fancy know more about Cheeseman's, Lamberley, before through The letter is, as I had hoped, from Robert Ferguson , he claims acquaintance "

"With me ! "

"You had better read it "

He handed the letter across headed address quoted

HOLMES [it said]: recommended by my lawyers, but indeed the matter is so extraordinarily delicate most difficult to discuss It concerns friend for whom acting This gentleman married some five Peruvian lady the daughter of Peruvian merchant, whom he had met in connection importation of nitrates The lady was very beautiful, but the fact of her foreign birth and of her alien religion always caused separation of interests and of feelings between husband and wife, after time his love cooled towards her and come to regard their union as mistake there were sides of her character which never explore or understand the more painful as she was as loving wife as man -- to all appearance absolutely devoted

Now point which make more plain when we meet Indeed, this note is merely general idea situation and to ascertain whether care to interest yourself matter The lady began to show some curious traits quite alien to her ordinarily sweet and gentle disposition The gentleman married twice and he had one son first wife This boy was now fifteen, very charming and affectionate youth, though unhappily injured through an accident in childhood Twice the wife was caught act of assaulting this poor lad most unprovoked way Once she struck him with stick and left great weal arm

small matter, however, compared with her conduct to her own child, dear boy just under one year of age On one occasion about month ago this child left by its nurse loud cry baby, as of pain, called the nurse back As she ran room she saw her employer, the lady, leaning over the baby and apparently biting his neck small wound neck stream of blood had escaped The nurse was so horrified that she wished the husband, but the lady implored her not and actually gave her five pounds as price for her silence No explanation was ever given, and moment the matter was passed over It left, however, terrible impression nurse's mind, and she began to watch her mistress closely and closer guard baby, whom she tenderly loved It seemed to her that even as she watched the mother, so the mother watched her, every time she was compelled to leave the baby alone the mother was waiting at it Day and night the nurse covered the child, and day and night the silent, watchful mother seemed lying in wait as wolf waits for lamb It must read most incredible , and yet I beg you it seri- ously, for child's life and man's sanity may depend upon it

At last there came one dreadful day facts could no longer be concealed husband The nurse's nerve had given way; stand the strain no longer, and she made clean breast of it all man To him it seemed as wild tale as it may now seem his wife loving wife, and, save assaults upon her stepson, loving mother Why, then, should she wound her own dear little baby ? the nurse that she was dreaming, that her suspicions were those of lunatic, such libels upon her mistress tolerated While they were talking sudden cry of pain was heard Nurse and master rushed together nursery Imagine his feelings, Mr Holmes, as his wife rise from kneeling position beside the cot and saw blood child's exposed neck and sheet With cry of horror, he turned his wife's face light and saw blood all round her lips she -- she beyond all question -- who had drunk the poor baby's blood