"In the immediate neighbourhood, yes. But we have several smallwatering-places not very far away. And the farmers take in lodgers."
"These hieroglyphics have evidently a meaning. If it is a purelyarbitrary one it may be impossible for us to solve it. If, on the otherhand, it is systematic, I have no doubt that we shall get to the bottomof it. But this particular sample is so short that I can do nothing, andthe facts which you have brought me are so indefinite that we have nobasis for an investigation. I would suggest that you return to Norfolk,that you keep a keen look-out, and that you take an exact copy of anyfresh dancing men which may appear. It is a thousand pities that wehave not a reproduction of those which were done in chalk upon thewindow-sill. Make a discreet inquiry also as to any strangers in theneighbourhood. When you have collected some fresh evidence come to meagain. That is the best advice which I can give you, Mr. Hilton Cubitt.If there are any pressing fresh developments I shall be always ready torun down and see you in your Norfolk home."
The interview left Sherlock Holmes very thoughtful, and several timesin the next few days I saw him take his slip of paper from his note-bookand look long and earnestly at the curious figures inscribed upon it. Hemade no allusion to the affair, however, until one afternoon a fortnightor so later. I was going out when he called me back.
"You had better stay here, Watson."
"Why?"
"Because I had a wire from Hilton Cubitt this morning--you rememberHilton Cubitt, of the dancing men? He was to reach Liverpool Street atone-twenty. He may be here at any moment. I gather from his wire thatthere have been some new incidents of importance."
We had not long to wait, for our Norfolk squire came straight from thestation as fast as a hansom could bring him. He was looking worried anddepressed, with tired eyes and a lined forehead.
"It's getting on my nerves, this business, Mr. Holmes," said he, as hesank, like a wearied man, into an arm-chair. "It's bad enough to feelthat you are surrounded by unseen, unknown folk, who have some kind ofdesign upon you; but when, in addition to that, you know that it is justkilling your wife by inches, then it becomes as much as flesh and bloodcan endure. She's wearing away under it--just wearing away before myeyes."
"Has she said anything yet?"
"No, Mr. Holmes, she has not. And yet there have been times when thepoor girl has wanted to speak, and yet could not quite bring herselfto take the plunge. I have tried to help her; but I dare say I didit clumsily, and scared her off from it. She has spoken about my oldfamily, and our reputation in the county, and our pride in our unsulliedhonour, and I always felt it was leading to the point; but somehow itturned off before we got there."
"But you have found out something for yourself?"
"A good deal, Mr. Holmes. I have several fresh dancing men pictures foryou to examine, and, what is more important, I have seen the fellow."
"What, the man who draws them?"
"Yes, I saw him at his work. But I will tell you everything in order.When I got back after my visit to you, the very first thing I saw nextmorning was a fresh crop of dancing men. They had been drawn in chalkupon the black wooden door of the tool-house, which stands beside thelawn in full view of the front windows. I took an exact copy, and hereit is." He unfolded a paper and laid it upon the table. Here is a copyof the hieroglyphics:--
GRAPHIC
"Excellent!" said Holmes. "Excellent! Pray continue."
"When I had taken the copy I rubbed out the marks; but two morningslater a fresh inscription had appeared. I have a copy of it here":--
GRAPHIC
Holmes rubbed his hands and chuckled with delight.
"Our material is rapidly accumulating," said he.
"Three days later a message was left scrawled upon paper, and placedunder a pebble upon the sun-dial. Here it is. The characters are, as yousee, exactly the same as the last one. After that I determined to lie inwait; so I got out my revolver and I sat up in my study, which overlooksthe lawn and garden. About two in the morning I was seated by thewindow, all being dark save for the moonlight outside, when I heardsteps behind me, and there was my wife in her dressing-gown. Sheimplored me to come to bed. I told her frankly that I wished to see whoit was who played such absurd tricks upon us. She answered that it wassome senseless practical joke, and that I should not take any notice ofit.
"'If it really annoys you, Hilton, we might go and travel, you and I,and so avoid this nuisance.'
"'What, be driven out of our own house by a practical joker?' said I.'Why, we should have the whole county laughing at us.'
"'Well, come to bed,' said she, 'and we can discuss it in the morning.'
"Suddenly, as she spoke, I saw her white face grow whiter yet in themoonlight, and her hand tightened upon my shoulder. Something was movingin the shadow of the tool-house. I saw a dark, creeping figure whichcrawled round the corner and squatted in front of the door. Seizing mypistol I was rushing out, when my wife threw her arms round me and heldme with convulsive strength. I tried to throw her off, but she clung tome most desperately. At last I got clear, but by the time I had openedthe door and reached the house the creature was gone. He had left atrace of his presence, however, for there on the door was the very samearrangement of dancing men which had already twice appeared, and whichI have copied on that paper. There was no other sign of the fellowanywhere, though I ran all over the grounds. And yet the amazing thingis that he must have been there all the time, for when I examined thedoor again in the morning he had scrawled some more of his picturesunder the line which I had already seen."
"Have you that fresh drawing?"
"Yes; it is very short, but I made a copy of it, and here it is."
Again he produced a paper. The new dance was in this form:--
GRAPHIC
"Tell me," said Holmes--and I could see by his eyes that he was muchexcited--"was this a mere addition to the first, or did it appear to beentirely separate?"