按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
pictures and read descriptions of the famous old building； so I will
confine my account of it to saying that it is built in the shape of an
L； the long arm being the more modern portion； and the shorter the
ancient nucleus from which the other has developed。 Over the low；
heavy…lintelled door； in the centre of this old part； is chiselled the
date； 1607； but experts are agreed that the beams and stonework are
really much older than this。 The enormously thick walls and tiny
windows of this part had in the last century driven the family into
building the new wing； and the old one was used now as a storehouse
and a cellar； when it was used at all。 A splendid park with fine old
timber surrounds the house； and the lake； to which my client had
referred； lay close to the avenue； about two hundred yards from the
building。
〃I was already firmly convinced； Watson； that there were not three
separate mysteries here； but one only； and that if I could read the
Musgrave Ritual aright I should hold in my hand the clue which would
lead me to the truth concerning both the butler Brunton and the maid
Howells。 To that then I turned all my energies。 Why should this
servant be so anxious to master this old formula？ Evidently because he
saw something in it which had escaped all those generations of country
squires； and from which he expected some personal advantage。 What
was it then； and how had it affected his fate？
〃It was perfectly obvious to me； on reading the Ritual； that the
measurements must refer to some spot to which the rest of the document
alluded； and that if we could find that spot we should be in a fair
way towards finding what the secret was which the old Musgraves had
thought it necessary to embalm in so curious a fashion。 There were two
guides given us to start with； an oak and an elm。 As to the oak
there could be no question at all。 Right in front of the house； upon
the lefthand side of the drive； there stood a patriarch among oaks；
one of the most magnificent trees that I have ever seen。
〃'That was there when your Ritual was drawn up；' said I as we
drove past it。
〃'It was there at the Norman Conquest in all probability；' he
answered。 'It has a girth of twenty…three feet。'
〃Here was one of my fixed points secured。
〃'Have you any old elms？' I asked。
〃'There used to be a very old one over yonder； but it was struck
by lightning ten years ago； and we cut down the stump。'
〃'You can see where it used to be？'
〃‘Oh yes。'
〃‘There are no other elms？'
〃'No old ones； but plenty of beeches。'
〃'I should like to see where it grew。'
〃We had driven up in a dog…cart； and my client led me away at
once； without our entering the house； to the scar on the lawn where
the elm had stood。 It was nearly midway between the oak and the house。
My investigation seemed to be progressing。
〃'I suppose it is impossible to find out how high the elm was？' I
asked。
〃'I can give you it at once。 It was sixty…four feet。'
〃'How do you come to know it？' I asked in surprise。
〃'When my old tutor used to give me an exercise in trigonometry；
it always took the shape of measuring heights。 When I was a lad I
worked out every tree and building in the estate。'
〃This was an unexpected piece of luck。 My data were coming more
quickly than I could have reasonably hoped。
〃'Tell me；' I asked； 'did your butler ever ask you such a question？'
〃Reginald Musgrave looked at me in astonishment。 'Now that you
call it to my mind；' he answered； 'Brunton did ask me about the height
of the tree some months ago in connection with some little argument
with the groom。'
〃This was excellent news； Watson； for it showed me that I was on the
right road。 I looked up at the sun。 It was low in the heavens； and I
calculated that in less than an hour it would lie just above the
topmost branches of the old oak。 One condition mentioned in the Ritual
would then be fulfilled。 And the shadow of the elm must mean the
farther end of the shadow； otherwise the trunk would have been
chosen as the guide。 I had； then； to find where the far end of the
shadow would fall when the sun was just clear of the oak。〃
〃That must have been difficult； Holmes； when the elm was no longer
there。〃
〃Well； at least I knew that if Brunton could do it； I could also。
Besides； there was no real difficulty。 I went with Musgrave to his
study and whittled myself this peg； to which I tied this long string
with a knot at each yard。 Then I took two lengths of a fishing…rod；
which came to just six feet； and I went back with my client to where
the elm had been。 The sun was just grazing the top of the oak。 I
fastened the rod on end； marked out the direction of the shadow； and
measured it。 It was nine feet in length。
〃Of course the calculation now was a simple one。 If a rod of six
feet threw a shadow of nine； a tree of sixty…four feet would throw one
of ninety…six； and the line of the one would of course be the line
of the other。 I measured out the distance； which brought me almost
to the wall of the house； and I thrust a peg into the spot。 You can
imagine my exultation； Watson； when within two inches of my peg I
saw a conical depression in the ground。 I knew that it was the mark
made by Brunton in his measurements； and that I was still upon his
trail。
〃From this starting…point I proceeded to step； having first taken
the cardinal points by my pocket…compass。 Ten steps with each foot
took me along parallel with the wall of the house； and again I
marked my spot with a peg。 Then I carefully paced off five to the east
and two to the south。 It brought me to the very threshold of the old
door。 Two steps to the west meant now that I was to go two paces
down the stone…flagged passage； and this was the place indicated by
the Ritual。
〃Never have I felt such a cold chill of disappointment； Watson。
For a moment it seemed to me that there must be some radical mistake
in my calculations。 The setting sun shone full upon the passage floor；
and I could see that the old； foot…worn gray stones with which it
was paved were firmly cemented together； and had certainly not been
moved for many a long year。 Brunton had not been at work here。 I
tapped upon the floor； but it sounded the same all over； and there was
no sign of any crack or crevice。 But fortunately； Musgrave； who had
begun to appreciate the meaning of my proceedings； and who was now
as excited as myself； took out his manuscript to check my
calculations。
〃'And under；' he cried。 'You have omitted the and under。'
〃I had thought that it meant that we were to dig； but now； of
course； I saw at once that I was wrong。 'There is a cedar under this
then？' I cried。
〃'Yes； and as old as the house。 Down here； through this door。'
〃We went down a winding stone stair； and my companion； striking a
match； lit a large lantern which stood on a barrel in the corner。 In
an instant it was obvious that we had at last come upon the true
place； and that we had not been the only people to visit the spot
recently。
〃It had been used for the storage of wood； but the billets； which
had evidently been littered over the floor； were now piled at the
sides； so as to leave a clear space in the middle。 In this space lay a
large and heavy flagstone with a rusted iron ring in the centre to
which a thick shepherd's…check muffler was attached。
〃'By Jove！' cried my client。 'That's Brunton's muffler。 I have
seen it on him and could swear to it。 What has the villain been
doing here？'
〃At my suggestion a couple of the county police were summoned to
be present； and I then endeavoured to raise the stone by pulling on
the cravat。 I could only move it slightly； and it was with the aid
of one of the constables that I succeeded at last in carrying it to
one side。 A black hole yawned beneath into which we all peered；
while Musgrave； kneeling at the side； pushed down the lantern。
〃A small chamber about seven feet deep and four feet square lay open
to us。 At one side of this was a squat； brass…bound wooden box； the
lid of which was hinged upward； wit