hand, it is systematic, i have no
doubt that we shall get to the bottom of it. but this
particular sample is so short that i can do nothing, and
the facts which you have brought me are so indefinite that
we have no basis 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 any fresh dancing men
which may appear. it is a thousand pities that we have not
a reproduction of those which were done in chalk upon the
window-sill. make a discreet inquiry also as to any
strangers in the neighbourhood. when you have collected
some fresh evidence come to me again. 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
to run down and see you in your norfolk home."
the interview left sherlock holmes very thoughtful, and
several times in the next few days i saw him take his slip
of paper from his note-book and look long and earnestly at
the curious figures inscribed upon it. he made no allusion
to the affair, however, until one afternoon a fortnight or
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 remember hilton cubitt, of the dancing men? he was to
reach liverpool street at one-twenty. he may be here at
any moment. i gather from his wire that there have been
some new incidents of importance."
we had not long to wait, for our norfolk squire came
straight from the station as fast as a hansom could bring
him. he was looking worried and depressed, with tired eyes
and a lined forehead.
"it's getting on my nerves, this business, mr. holmes,"
said he, as he sank, like a wearied man, into an arm-chair.
"it's bad enough to feel that you are surrounded by unseen,
unknown folk, who have some kind of design upon you; but
when, in addition to that, you know that it is just killing
your wife by inches, then it becomes as much as flesh and
blood can endure. she's wearing away under it -- just
wearing away before my eyes."
"has she said anything yet?"
"no, mr. holmes, she has not. and yet there have been
times when the poor girl has wanted to speak, and yet could
not quite bring herself to take the plunge. i have tried
to help her; but i dare say i did it clumsily, and scared
her off from it. she has spoken about my old family, and
our reputation in the county, and our pride in our
unsullied honour, and i always felt it was leading to the
point; but somehow it turned 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 for you 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 next morning was a fresh
crop of dancing men. they had been drawn in chalk upon the
black wooden door of the tool-house, which stands beside
the lawn in full view of the front windows. i took an
exact copy, and here it is." he unfolded a paper and laid
it upon the table. here is a copy of the hieroglyphics:--
{graphic}
"excellent!" said holmes. "excellent! pray continue."
"when i had taken the copy i rubbed out the marks; but two
mornings later 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 placed under a pebble upon the sun-dial. here it is.
the characters are, as you see, exactly the same as the
last one. after that i determined to lie in wait; so i got
out my revolver and i sat up in my study, which overlooks
the lawn and garden. about two in the morning i was seated
by the window, all being dark save for the moonlight
outside, when i heard steps behind me, and there was my
wife in her dressing-gown. she implored me to come to bed.
i told her frankly that i wished to see who it was who
played such absurd tricks upon us. she answered that it
was some senseless practical joke, and that i should not
take any notice of it.
"'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 the moonlight, and her hand tightened upon my
shoulder. something was moving in the shadow
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