but he struck me a savage blow with

his fist over the eye, and felled me to the ground. i must have

been unconscious for a few minutes, for when i came to myself i

found that they had torn down the bell-rope and had secured me

tightly to the oaken chair which stands at the head of the

dining-room table. i was so firmly bound that i could not move,

and a handkerchief round my mouth prevented me from uttering any

sound. it was at this instant that my unfortunate husband entered

the room. he had evidently heard some suspicious sounds, and he

came prepared for such a scene as he found. he was dressed in his

shirt and trousers, with his favourite blackthorn cudgel in his

hand. he rushed at one of the burglars, but another -- it was the

elderly man -- stooped, picked the poker out of the grate, and

struck him a horrible blow as he passed. he fell without a groan,

and never moved again. i fainted once more, but again it could

only have been a very few minutes during which i was insensible.

when i opened my eyes i found that they had collected the silver

from the sideboard, and they had drawn a bottle of wine which

stood there. each of them had a glass in his hand. i have

already told you, have i not, that one was elderly, with a beard,

and the others young, hairless lads. they might have been a

father with his two sons. they talked together in whispers.

then they came over and made sure that i was still securely bound.

finally they withdrew, closing the window after them. it was

quite a quarter of an hour before i got my mouth free. when i did

so my screams brought the maid to my assistance. the other

servants were soon alarmed, and we sent for the local police, who

instantly communicated with london. that is really all i can tell

you, gentlemen, and i trust that it will not be necessary for me

to go over so painful a story again."

"any questions, mr. holmes?" asked hopkins.

"i will not impose any further tax upon lady brackenstall's

patience and time," said holmes. "before i go into the

dining-room i should like to hear your experience." he looked at

the maid.

"i saw the men before ever they came into the house," said she.

"as i sat by my bedroom window i saw three men in the moonlight

down by the lodge gate yonder, but i thought nothing of it at the

time. it was more than an hour after that i heard my mistress

scream, and down i ran, to find her, poor lamb, just as she says,

and him on the floor with his blood and brains over the room. it

was enough to drive a woman out of her wits, tied there, and her

very dress spotted with him; but she never wanted courage, did

miss mary fraser of adelaide, and lady brackenstall of abbey

grange hasn't learned new ways. you've questioned her long

enough, you gentlemen, and now she is coming to her own room,

just with her old theresa, to get the rest that she badly needs."

with a motherly tenderness the gaunt woman put her arm round her

mistress and led her from the room.

"she has been with her all her life," said hopkins. "nursed her

as a baby, and came with her to england when they first left

australia eighteen months ago. theresa wright is her name,

and the kind of maid you don't pick up nowadays. this way,

mr. holmes, if you please!"

the keen interest had passed out of holmes's expressive face,

and i knew that with the mystery all the charm of the case had

departed. there still remained an arrest to be effected, but what

were these commonplace rogues that he should soil his hands with

them? an abstruse and learned specialist who finds that he has

been called in for a case of measles would experience something of

the annoyance which i read in my friend's eyes. yet the scene in

the dining-room of the abbey grange was sufficiently strange to

arrest his attention and to recall his waning interest.

it was a very large and high chamber, with carved oak ceiling,

oaken panelling, and a fine array of deer's heads and ancient

weapons around the walls. at the farther end from the door was

the high french window of which we had heard. three smaller

windows on the right-hand side filled the apartment with cold

winter sunshine. on the left was a large, deep fireplace, with a

massive over-hanging oak mantelpiece. beside the fireplace was a

heavy oaken chair with arms and cross-bars at the bottom. in and

out through the open woodwork was woven a crimson cord, which was

secured at each side to the crosspiece below. in releasing the

lady the cord had been slipped off her, but the knots with which

it had been secured still remained. these details only struck our

attention afterwards, for our thoughts were entirely absorbed by

the terrible object which lay spread upon the tiger-skin hearthrug

in front of the fire.

it was the body of a tall, well-made man, about forty years of

age. he lay upon his