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〃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； it was not he。〃
〃That's true； sir。〃
〃What is the name of that inn you spoke of？〃
〃The Green Dragon。〃
〃Is there good fishing in that part of Berkshire？〃 The honest
trainer showed very clearly upon his face that he was convinced that
yet another lunatic had come into his harassed life。
〃Well； sir； I've heard there are trout in the mill…stream and pike
in the Hall lake。〃
〃That's good enough。 Watson and I are famous fishermen… are we
not； Watson？ You may address us in future at the Green Dragon。 We
should reach it to…night。 I need not say that we don't want to see
you； Mr。 Mason； but a note will reach us； and no doubt I could find
you if I want you。 When we have gone a little farther into the
matter I will let you have a considered opinion。〃
Thus it was that on a bright May evening Holmes and I found
ourselves alone in a first…class carriage and bound for the little
〃halt…on…demand〃 station of Shoscombe。 The rack above us was covered
with a formidable litter of rods； reels； and baskets。 On reaching
our destination a short drive took us to an old…fashioned tavern；
where a sporting host； Josiah Barnes； entered eagerly into our plans
for the extirpation of the fish of the neighbourhood。
〃What about the Hall lake and the chance of a pike？〃 said Holmes。
The face of the innkeeper clouded。
〃That wouldn't do； sir。 You might chance to find yourself in the
lake before you were through。〃
〃How's that； then？〃
〃It's Sir Robert； sir。 He's terrible jealous of touts。 If you two
strangers were as near his training quarters as that he'd be after you
as sure as fate。 He ain't taking no chances； Sir Robert ain't。〃
〃I've heard he has a horse entered for the Derby。〃
〃Yes； and a good colt； too。 He carries all our money for the race；
and all Sir Robert's into the Bargain。 By the way〃… he looked at us
with thoughtful eyes… 〃I suppose you ain't on the turf yourselves？〃
〃No； indeed。 just two weary Londoners who badly need some good
Berkshire air。〃
〃Well； you are in the right place for that。 There is a deal of it
lying about。 But mind what I have told you about Sir Robert。 He's
the sort that strikes first and speaks afterwards。 Keep clear of the
park。〃
〃Surely； Mr。 Barnes！ We certainly shall。 By the way； that was a most
beautiful spaniel that was whining in the hall。〃
〃I should say it was。 That was the real Shoscombe breed。 There ain't
a better in England。〃
〃I am a dog…fancier myself；〃 said Holmes。 〃Now； if it is a fair
question； what would a prize dog like that cost？〃
〃More than I could pay； sir。 It was Sir Robert himself who gave me
this one。 That's why I have to keep it on a lead。 It would be off to
the Hall in a jiffy if I gave it its head。〃
〃We are getting some cards in our hand； Watson；〃 said Holmes when
the landlord had left us。 〃It's not an easy one to play； but we may
see our way in a day or two。 By the way； Sir Robert is still in
London； I hear。 We might； perhaps； enter the sacred domain to…night
without fear of bodily assault。 There are one or two points on which I
should like reassurance。〃
〃Have you any theory； Holmes？〃
〃Only this； Watson； that something happened a week or so ago which
has cut deep into the life of the Shoscombe household。 What is that
something？ We can only guess at it from its effects。 They seem to be
of a curiously mixed character。 But that should surely help us。 It
is only the colourless； uneventful case which is hopeless。
〃Let us consider our data。 The brother no longer visits the
beloved invalid sister。 He gives away her favourite dog。 Her dog；
Watson！ Does that suggest nothing to you？〃
〃Nothing but the brother's spite。〃
〃Well； it might be so。 Or… well； there is an alternative。 Now to
continue our review of the situation from the time that the quarrel；
if there is a quarrel； began。 The lady keeps her room； alters her
habits； is not seen save when she drives out with her maid； refuses to
stop at the stables to greet her favourite horse； and apparently takes
to drink。 That covers the case； does it not？〃
〃Save for the business in the crypt。〃
〃That is another line of thought。 There are two； and I beg you
will not tangle them。 Line A； which concerns Lady Beatrice； has a
vaguely sinister flavour； has it not？〃
〃I can make nothing of it。〃
〃Well； now； let us take up line B； which concerns Sir Robert。 He
is mad keen upon winning the Derby。 He is in the hands of the Jews；
and may at any moment be sold up and his racing stables seized by
his creditors。 He is a daring and desperate man。 He derives his income
from his sister。 His sister's maid is his willing tool。 So far we seem
to be on fairly safe ground； do we not？〃
〃But the crypt？〃
〃Ah； yes； the crypt！ Let us suppose； Watson… it is merely a
scandalous supposition； a hypothesis put forward for argument's
sake… that Sir Robert has done away with his sister。〃
〃My dear Holmes； it is out of the question。〃
〃Very possibly； Watson。 Sir Robert is a man of an honourable
stock。 But you do occasionally find a carrion crow among the eagles。
Let us for a moment argue upon this supposition。 He could not fly
the country until he had realized his fortune； and that fortune
could only be realized by bringing off this coup with Shoscombe
Prince。 Therefore； he has still to stand his ground。 To do this he
would have to dispose of the body of his victim； and he would also
have to find a substitute who would impersonate her。 With the maid
as his confidante that would not be impossible。 The woman's body might
be conveyed to the crypt； which is a place so seldom visited； and it
might be secretly destroyed at night in the furnace； leaving behind it
such evidence as we have already seen。 What say you to that； Watson？〃
〃Well； it is all possible if you grant the original monstrous
supposition。〃
〃I think that there is a small experiment which we may try
to…morrow； Watson； in order to throw some light on the matter。
Meanwhile； if we mean to keep up our characters； I suggest that we
have our host in for a glass of his own wine and hold some high
converse upon eels and dace； which seems to be the straight road to
his affections。 We may chance to come upon some useful local gossip in
the process。〃
In the morning Holmes discovered that we had come without our
spoon…bait for jack； which absolved us from fishing for the day。 About
eleven o'clock we started for a walk； and he obtained leave to take
the black spaniel with us。
〃This is the place；〃 said he as we came to two high park gates
with heraldic griffins towering above them。 〃About midday； Mr。
Barnes informs me； the old lady takes a drive； and the carriage must
slow down while the gates are opened。 When it comes through； and
before it gathers speed； I want you； Watson； to stop the coachman with
some question。 Never mind me。 I shall stand behind this holly…bush and
see what I can see。〃
It was not a