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horrible doubt came into my mind as I approached the door lest the dog
might be loose； but I remembered that Toller had drunk himself into
a state of insensibility that evening； and I knew that he was the only
one in the household who had any influence with the savage creature；
or who would venture to set him free。 I slipped in and lay awake
half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you。 I had no
difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this morning；
but I must be back before three o'clock； for Mr。 and Mrs。 Rucastle are
going on a visit； and will be away all the evening； so that I must
look after the child。 Now I have told you all my adventures； Mr。
Holmes； and I should be very glad if you could tell me what it all
means； and； above all； what I should do。〃
Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story。 My
friend rose now and paced up and down the room； his hands in his
pockets； and an expression of the most profound gravity upon his face。
〃Is Toller still drunk？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。 I heard his wife tell Mrs。 Rucastle that she could do
nothing with him。〃
〃That is well。 And the Rucastles go out to…night？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Is there a cellar with a good strong lock？〃
〃Yes； the wine…cellar。〃
〃You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very
brave and sensible girl； Miss Hunter。 Do you think that you could
perform one more feat？ I should not ask it of you if I did not think
you a quite exceptional woman。〃
〃I will try。 What is it？〃
〃We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock； my friend and
I。 The Rucastles will be gone by that time； and Toller will； we
hope； be incapable。 There only remains Mrs。 Toller； who might give the
alarm。 If you could send her into the cellar on some errand； and
then turn the key upon her； you would facilitate matters immensely。〃
〃I will do it。〃
〃Excellent！ We shall then look thoroughly into the affair。 Of course
there is only one feasible explanation。 You have been brought there to
personate someone； and the real person is imprisoned in this
chamber。 That is obvious。 As to who this prisoner is； I have no
doubt that it is the daughter； Miss Alice Rucastle； if I remember
right； who was said to have gone to America。 You were chosen；
doubtless； as resembling her in height； figure； and the colour of your
hair。 Hers had been cut off； very possibly in some illness through
which she has passed； and so； of course； yours had to be sacrificed
also。 By a curious chance you came upon her tresses。 The man in the
road was undoubtedly some friend of hers…possibly her fiance…and no
doubt； as you wore the girl's dress and were so like her； he was
convinced from your laughter； whenever he saw you； and afterwards from
your gesture； that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy； and that she
no longer desired his attentions。 The dog is let loose at night to
prevent him from endeavouring to communicate with her。 So much is
fairly clear。 The most serious point in the case is the disposition of
the child。〃
〃What on earth has that to do with it？〃 I ejaculated。
〃My dear Watson； you as a medical man are continually gaining
light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the parents。
Don't you see that the converse is equally valid。 I have frequently
gained my first real insight into the character of parents by studying
their children。 This child's disposition is abnormally cruel； merely
for cruelty's sake； and whether he derives this from his smiling
father； as I should suspect； or from his mother； it bodes evil for the
poor girl who is in their power。〃
〃I am sure that you are right Mr。 Holmes；〃 cried our client。 〃A
thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you have
hit it。 Oh； let us lose not an instant in bringing help to this poor
creature。〃
〃We must be circumspect for we are dealing with a very cunning
man。 We can do nothing until seven o'clock。 At that hour we shall be
with you； and it will not be long before we solve the mystery。〃
We were as good as our word； for it was just seven when we reached
the Copper Beeches； having put up our trap at a wayside
public…house。 The group of trees； with their dark leaves shining
like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun； were
sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been standing
smiling on the door…step。
〃Have you managed it？〃 asked Holmes。
A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs。 〃That is
Mrs。 Toller in the cellar；〃 said she。 〃Her husband lies snoring on the
kitchen rug。 Here are his keys； which are the duplicates of Mr。
Rucastle's。〃
〃You have done well indeed！〃 cried Holmes with enthusiasm。 〃Now lead
the way； and we shall soon see the end of this black business。〃
We passed up the stair； unlocked the door； followed on down a
passage； and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss
Hunter had described。 Holmes cut the cord and removed the transverse
bar。 Then he tried the various keys in the lock； but without
success。 No sound came from within； and at the silence Holmes's face
clouded over。
〃I trust that we are not too late；〃 said he。 〃I think； Miss
Hunter； that we had better go in without you。 Now； Watson； put your
shoulder to it； and we shall see whether we cannot make our way in。〃
It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united
strength。 Together we rushed into the room。 It was empty。 There was no
furniture save a little pallet bed； a small table； and a basketful
of linen。 The skylight above was open； and the prisoner gone。
〃There has been some villainy here；〃 said Holmes； 〃this beauty has
guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim off。〃
〃But how？〃
〃Through the skylight。 We shall soon see how he managed it。〃 He
swung himself up onto the roof。 〃Ah； yes；〃 he cried； 〃here's the end
of a long light ladder against the eaves。 That is how he did it。〃
〃But it is impossible；〃 said Miss Hunter； 〃the ladder was not
there when the Rucastles went away。
〃He has come back and done it。 I tell you that he is a clever and
dangerous man。 I should not be very much surprised if this were he
whose step I hear now upon the stair。 I think； Watson； that it would
be as well for you to have your pistol ready。〃
The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at
the door of the room； a very fat and burly man； with a heavy stick
in his hand。 Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the wall at the
sight of him； but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and confronted him。
〃You villain！〃 said he； 〃where's your daughter？〃
The fat man cast his eyes round； and then up at the open skylight。
〃It is for me to ask you that；〃 he shrieked； 〃you thieves！ Spies and
thieves！ I have caught you； have I？ You are in my power。 I'll serve
you！〃 He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he could go。
〃He's gone for the dog！〃 cried Miss Hunter。
〃I have my revolver；〃 said I。
〃Better close the front door；〃 cried Holmes； and we all rushed
down the stairs together。 We had hardly reached the hall