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