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was only Jack who suffered。 Mrs。 Mason had no complaint to make
about the baby。〃
〃That certainly complicates matters。〃
〃I don't quite follow you； Mr。 Holmes。〃
〃Possibly not。 One forms provisional theories and waits for time
or fuller knowledge to explode them。 A bad habit； Mr。 Ferguson； but
human nature is weak。 I fear that your old friend here has given an
exaggerated view of my scientific methods。 However； I will only say at
the present stage that your problem does not appear to me to be
insoluble； and that you may expect to find us at Victoria at two
o'clock。〃
It was evening of a dull； foggy November day when； having left our
bags at the Chequers； Lamberley； we drove through the Sussex clay of a
long winding lane and finally reached the isolated and ancient
farmhouse in which Ferguson dwelt。 It was a large； straggling
building； very old in the centre； very new at the wings with
towering Tudor chimneys and a lichen…spotted； high…pitched roof of
Horsham slabs。 The doorsteps were worn into curves； and the ancient
tiles which lined the porch were marked with the rebus of a cheese and
a man after the original builder。 Within； the ceilings were corrugated
with heavy oaken beams； and the uneven floors sagged into sharp
curves。 An odour of age and decay pervaded the whole crumbling
building。
There was one very large central room into which Ferguson led us。
Here； in a huge old…fashioned fireplace with an iron screen behind
it dated 1670； there blazed and spluttered a splendid log fire。
The room； as I gazed round； was a most singular mixture of dates and
of places。 The half…panelled walls may well have belonged to the
original yeoman farmer of the seventeenth century。 They were
ornamented； however； on the lower part by a line of well…chosen modern
water…colours； while above； where yellow plaster took the place of
oak； there was hung a fine collection of South American utensils and
weapons； which had been brought； no doubt； by the Peruvian lady
upstairs。 Holmes rose； with that quick curiosity which sprang from his
eager mind； and examined them with some care。 He returned with his
eyes full of thought。
〃Hullo！〃 he cried。 〃Hullo！〃
A spaniel had lain in a basket in the corner。 It came slowly forward
towards its master； walking with difficulty。 Its hind legs moved
irregularly and its tail was on the ground。 It licked Ferguson's hand。
〃What is it； Mr。 Holmes？〃
〃The dog。 What's the matter with it？〃
〃That's what puzzled the vet。 A sort of paralysis。 Spinal
meningitis； he thought。 But it is passing。 He'll be all right soon…
won't you； Carlo？〃
A shiver of assent passed through the drooping tail。 The dog's
mournful eyes passed from one of us to the other。 He knew that we were
discussing his case。
〃Did it come on suddenly？〃
〃In a single night。〃
〃How long ago？〃
〃It may have been four months ago。〃
〃Very remarkable。 Very suggestive。〃
〃What do you see in it； Mr。 Holmes？〃
〃A confirmation of what I had already thought。〃
〃For God's sake； what do you think； Mr。 Holmes？ It may be a mere
intellectual puzzle to you； but it is life and death to me！ My wife
a would…be murderer… my child in constant danger！ Don't play with
me； Mr。 Holmes。 It is too terribly serious。〃
The big Rugby three…quarter was trembling all over。 Holmes put his
hand soothingly upon his arm。
〃I fear that there is pain for you； Mr。 Ferguson； whatever the
solution may be；〃 said he。 〃I would spare you all I can。 I cannot
say more for the instant； but before I leave this house I hope I may
have something definite。〃
〃Please God you may！ If you will excuse me； gentlemen； I will go
up to my wife's room and see if there has been any change。〃
He was away some minutes； during which Holmes resumed his
examination of the curiosities upon the wall。 When our host returned
it was clear from his downcast face that he had made no progress。 He
brought with him a tall； slim； brownfaced girl。
〃The tea is ready； Dolores；〃 said Ferguson。 〃See that your
mistress has everything she can wish。〃
〃She verra ill；〃 cried the girl； looking with indignant eyes at
her master。 〃She no ask for food。 She verra ill。 She need doctor。 I
frightened stay alone with her without doctor。〃
Ferguson looked at me with a question in his eyes。
〃I should be so glad if I could be of use。〃
〃Would your mistress see Dr。 Watson？〃
〃I take him。 I no ask leave。 She needs doctor。〃
〃Then I'll come with you at once。〃
I followed the girl； who was quivering with strong emotion； up the
staircase and down an ancient corridor。 At the end was an iron…clamped
and massive door。 It struck me as I looked at it that if Ferguson
tried to force his way to his wife he would find it no easy matter。
The girl drew a key from her pocket； and the heavy oaken planks
creaked upon their old hinges。 I passed in and she swiftly followed；
fastening the door behind her。
On the bed a woman was lying who was clearly in a high fever。 She
was only half conscious； But as I entered she raised a pair of
frightened but beautiful eyes and glared at me in apprehension。 Seeing
a stranger； she appeared to be relieved and sank back with a sigh upon
the pillow。 I stepped up to her with a few reassuring words； and she
lay still while I took her pulse and temperature。 Both were high；
and yet my impression was that the condition was rather that of mental
and nervous excitement than of any actual seizure。
〃She lie like that one day； two day。 I 'fraid she die；〃 said the
girl。
The woman turned her flushed and handsome face towards me。
〃Where is my husband？〃
〃He is below and would wish to see you。〃
〃I will not see him。 I will not see him。〃 Then she seemed to
wander off into delirium。 〃A fiend！ A fiend！ Oh； what shall I do
with this devil？〃
〃Can I help you in any way？〃
〃No。 No one can help。 It is finished。 All is destroyed。 Do what I
will； all is destroyed。〃
The woman must have some strange delusion。 I could not see honest
Bob Ferguson in the character of fiend or devil。
〃Madame；〃 I said； 〃your husband loves you dearly。 He is deeply
grieved at this happening。〃
Again she turned on me those glorious eyes。
〃He loves me。 Yes。 But do I not love him？ Do I not love him even
to sacrifice myself rather than break his dear heart？ That is how I
love him。 And yet he could think of me… he could speak of me so。〃
〃He is full of grief； but he cannot understand。〃
〃No； he cannot understand。 But he should trust。〃
〃Will you not see him？〃 I suggested。
〃No； no； I cannot forget those terrible words nor the look upon
his face。 I will not see him。 Go now。 You can do nothing for me。
Tell him only one thing。 I want my child。 I have a right to my
child。 That is the only message I can send him。〃 She turned her face
to the wall and would say no more。
I returned to the room downstairs； where Ferguson and Holmes still
sat by the fire。 Ferguson listened moodily to my account of the
interview。
〃How can I send her the child？〃 he said。 〃How do I know what strange
impulse might come upon her？ How can I ever forget how she rose from
beside it with its blood upon her lips？〃 He shuddered at the
recollection。 〃The child is safe with Mrs。 Mason； and there he must
remain。〃
A smart maid； the only modern thing which we had seen in the
house； had brought in some tea。 As she was serving it the door
opened and a youth entered the room。 He was a remarkable lad；
pale…faced and fair…haired； with excitable light blue eyes which
blazed into a sudden flame of emotion and joy as they rested upon
his father。 He rushed forward and threw his arms round his neck with
the abandon of a loving girl。
〃Oh； daddy；〃 he cried； 〃I did not know that you were due yet。 I
should have been here to meet you。 Oh； I am so glad to see you！〃
Ferguson gently disengaged himself from the embrace with some little
show of embarrassment。
〃Dear old chap；〃 said he； patting the flaxen head with a very tender
hand。 〃I came early because my friends； Mr。 Holmes and Dr。 Watson；
have been persuaded to com