inferences and presents one’s audience with the starting-pointand the conclusion, one may produce a startling, though possiblymeretricious, effect. Now, it was not really difficult, by aninspection of the groove between your left forefinger and thumb,to feel sure that you did not propose to invest your small capital inthe gold fields.”
“I see no connection.”
“Very likely not; but I can quickly show you a close connection.
Here are the missing links of the very simple chain: 1. You hadchalk between your left finger and thumb when you returned fromthe club last night. 2. You put chalk there when you play billiards,to steady the cue. 3. You never play billiards except with Thurston.
4. You told me, four weeks ago, that Thurston had an option onsome South African property which would expire in a month, andwhich he desired you to share with him. 5. Your check book islocked in my drawer, and you have not asked for the key. 6. You donot propose to invest your money in this manner.”
“How absurdly simple!” I cried.
“Quite so!” said he, a little nettled. “Every problem becomes verychildish when once it is explained to you. Here is an unexplainedone. See what you can make of that, friend Watson.” He tossedsheet of paper upon the table, and turned once more to hischemical analysis.
I looked with amazement at the absurd hieroglyphics upon thepaper.
“Why, Holmes, it is a child’s drawing,” I cried.
“Oh, that’s your idea!”
“What else should it be?”
“That is what Mr. Hilton Cubitt, of Riding Thorpe Manor,Norfolk, is very anxious to know. This little conundrum came by thefirst post, and he was to follow by the next train. There’s a ring at thebell, Watson. I should not be very much surprised if this were he.”
A heavy step was heard upon the stairs, and an instant laterthere entered a tall, ruddy, clean-shaven gentleman, whose cleareyes and florid cheeks told of a life led far from the fogs of BakerStreet. He seemed to bring a whiff of his strong, fresh, bracing,east-coast air with him as he entered. Having shaken hands witheach of us, he was about to sit down, when his eye rested upon thepaper with the curious markings, which I had just examined andleft upon the table.
“Well, Mr. Holmes, what do you make of these?” he cried. “Theytold me that you were fond of queer mysteries, and I don’t thinkyou can find a queerer one than that. I sent the paper on ahead, sothat you might have time to study it before I came.”
“It is certainly rather a curious production,” said Holmes. “AtThe Return of Sherlock Holmes 889
first sight it would appear to be some childish prank. It consistsof a number of absurd little figures dancing across the paper uponwhich they are drawn. Why should you attribute any importanceto so grotesque an object?”
“I never should, Mr. Holmes. But my wife does. It is frighteningher to death. She says nothing, but I can see terror in her eyes.
That’s why I want to sift the matter to the bottom.”
Holmes held up the paper so that the sunlight shone full uponit. It was a page torn from a notebook. The markings were done inpencil, and ran in this way:
Holmes examined it for some time, and then, folding it carefullyup, he placed it in his pocketbook.
“This promises to be a most interesting and unusual case,”
said he. “You gave me a few particulars in your letter, Mr. HiltonCubitt, but I should be very much obliged if you would kindly goover it all again for the benefit of my friend, Dr. Watson.”
“I’m not much of a story-teller,” said our visitor, nervouslyclasping and unclasping his great, strong hands. “You’ll just askme anything that I don’t make clear. I’ll begin at the time of mymarriage last year, but I want to say first of all that, though I’m nota rich man, my people have been at Riding Thorpe for a matter offive centuries, and there is no better known family in the Countyof Norfolk. Last year I came up to London for the Jubilee, and Istopped at a boarding-house in Russell Square, because Parker, thevicar of our parish, was staying in it. There was an American younglady there—Patrick was the name—Elsie Patrick. In some way webecame friends, until before my month was up I was as much inlove as man could be. We were quietly married at a registry office,and we returned to Norfolk a wedded couple. You’ll think it verymad, Mr. Holmes, that a man of a good old family should marry awife in this fashion, knowing nothing of her past or of her people,but if you saw her and knew her, it would help you to understand.
“She was very straight about it, was Elsie. I can’t say that shedid not give me every chance of getting out of it if I wished to doso. ‘I have had some very disagreeable associations in my life,’ saidshe, ‘I wish to forget all about them. I would rather never alludeto the past, for it is very painful to me. If you take me, Hilton, youwill take a woman who has nothing that she need be personallyashamed of, but you will have to be content with my word for it,and to allow me to be silent as to all that passed up to the time890 The Complete Sherlock Holmes
when I became yours. If these conditions are too hard, then goback to Norfolk, and leave me to the lonely life in which youfound me.’ It was only the day before our wedding that she saidthose very words to me. I told her that I was content to take heron her own terms, and I have been as good as my word.