The Adventure of the Copper Beeches

Arthur Conan Doyle

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T o the man who loves art for its own sake,”
remarked Sherlock Holmes, tossing aside
the advertisement sheet of the Daily Tele-
graph, “it is frequently in its least impor-
tant and lowliest manifestations that the keenest
pleasure is to be derived. It is pleasant to me to
observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped this
search, he had emerged in no very sweet temper to
lecture me upon my literary shortcomings.
“At the same time,” he remarked after a pause,
during which he had sat puffing at his long pipe
and gazing down into the fire, “you can hardly be
open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of these
cases which you have been so kind as to interest
truth that in these little records of our cases which yourself in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime,
you have been good enough to draw up, and, I am in its legal sense, at all. The small matter in which
bound to say, occasionally to embellish, you have I endeavoured to help the King of Bohemia, the
given prominence not so much to the many causes singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the
célèbres and sensational trials in which I have fig- problem connected with the man with the twisted
ured but rather to those incidents which may have lip, and the incident of the noble bachelor, were
been trivial in themselves, but which have given all matters which are outside the pale of the law.
room for those faculties of deduction and of logical But in avoiding the sensational, I fear that you may
synthesis which I have made my special province.” have bordered on the trivial.”
“And yet,” said I, smiling, “I cannot quite hold “The end may have been so,” I answered, “but
myself absolved from the charge of sensationalism the methods I hold to have been novel and of inter-
which has been urged against my records.” est.”
“You have erred, perhaps,” he observed, taking “Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public,
up a glowing cinder with the tongs and lighting the great unobservant public, who could hardly
with it the long cherry-wood pipe which was wont tell a weaver by his tooth or a compositor by his
to replace his clay when he was in a disputatious left thumb, care about the finer shades of analysis
rather than a meditative mood—“you have erred and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I
perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into cannot blame you, for the days of the great cases
each of your statements instead of confining your- are past. Man, or at least criminal man, has lost
self to the task of placing upon record that severe all enterprise and originality. As to my own little
reasoning from cause to effect which is really the practice, it seems to be degenerating into an agency
only notable feature about the thing.” for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice
to young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that
“It seems to me that I have done you full justice
I have touched bottom at last, however. This note
in the matter,” I remarked with some coldness, for I
I had this morning marks my zero-point, I fancy.
was repelled by the egotism which I had more than
Read it!” He tossed a crumpled letter across to me.
once observed to be a strong factor in my friend’s
singular character. It was dated from Montague Place upon the
preceding evening, and ran thus:
“No, it is not selfishness or conceit,” said he, an-
swering, as was his wont, my thoughts rather than Dear Mr. Holmes:
my words. “If I claim full justice for my art, it is I am very anxious to consult you as to
because it is an impersonal thing—a thing beyond whether I should or should not accept
myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore a situation which has been offered to
it is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that me as governess. I shall call at half-past
you should dwell. You have degraded what should ten to-morrow if I do not inconvenience
have been a course of lectures into a series of tales.” you.
It was a cold morning of the early spring, and — Yours faithfully,
we sat after breakfast on either side of a cheery Violet Hunter.
fire in the old room at Baker Street. A thick fog “Do you know the young lady?” I asked.
rolled down between the lines of dun-coloured
“Not I.”
houses, and the opposing windows loomed like
dark, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow “It is half-past ten now.”
wreaths. Our gas was lit and shone on the white “Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring.”
cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for the table “It may turn out to be of more interest than you
had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had think. You remember that the affair of the blue
been silent all the morning, dipping continuously carbuncle, which appeared to be a mere whim at
into the advertisement columns of a succession of first, developed into a serious investigation. It may
papers until at last, having apparently given up his be so in this case, also.”

1
 “Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very enthusiastic and rubbed his hands together in the
soon be solved, for here, unless I am much mis- most genial fashion. He was such a comfortable-
taken, is the person in question.” looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at
As he spoke the door opened and a young him.
lady entered the room. She was plainly but neatly “ ‘You are looking for a situation, miss?’ he
dressed, with a bright, quick face, freckled like asked.
a plover’s egg, and with the brisk manner of a “ ‘Yes, sir.’
woman who has had her own way to make in the “ ‘As governess?’
world. “ ‘Yes, sir.’
“You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure,” “ ‘And what salary do you ask?’
said she, as my companion rose to greet her, “but I
“ ‘I had £4 a month in my last place with Colonel
have had a very strange experience, and as I have
Spence Munro.’
no parents or relations of any sort from whom I
could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would “ ‘Oh, tut, tut! sweating—rank sweating!’ he
be kind enough to tell me what I should do.” cried, throwing his fat hands out into the air like
a man who is in a boiling passion. ‘How could
“Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with such
to do anything that I can to serve you.” attractions and accomplishments?’
I could see that Holmes was favourably im- “ ‘My accomplishments, sir, may be less than
pressed by the manner and speech of his new client. you imagine,’ said I. ‘A little French, a little Ger-
He looked her over in his searching fashion, and man, music, and drawing—’
then composed himself, with his lids drooping and “ ‘Tut, tut!’ he cried. ‘This is all quite beside the
his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. question. The point is, have you or have you not
“I have been a governess for five years,” said she, the bearing and deportment of a lady? There it is
“in the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two in a nutshell. If you have not, you are not fitted for
months ago the colonel received an appointment the rearing of a child who may some day play a
at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his children considerable part in the history of the country. But
over to America with him, so that I found myself if you have why, then, how could any gentleman
without a situation. I advertised, and I answered ask you to condescend to accept anything under
advertisements, but without success. At last the the three figures? Your salary with me, madam,
little money which I had saved began to run short, would commence at £100 a year.’
and I was at my wit’s end as to what I should do. “You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me,
“There is a well-known agency for governesses destitute as I was, such an offer seemed almost
in the West End called Westaway’s, and there I used too good to be true. The gentleman, however, see-
to call about once a week in order to see whether ing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face,
anything had turned up which might suit me. West- opened a pocket-book and took out a note.
away was the name of the founder of the business, “ ‘It is also my custom,’ said he, smiling in the
but it is really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in most pleasant fashion until his eyes were just two
her own little office, and the ladies who are seek- little shining slits amid the white creases of his face,
ing employment wait in an anteroom, and are then ‘to advance to my young ladies half their salary be-
shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers forehand, so that they may meet any little expenses
and sees whether she has anything which would of their journey and their wardrobe.’
suit them. “It seemed to me that I had never met so fasci-
“Well, when I called last week I was shown nating and so thoughtful a man. As I was already
into the little office as usual, but I found that Miss in debt to my tradesmen, the advance was a great
Stoper was not alone. A prodigiously stout man convenience, and yet there was something unnat-
with a very smiling face and a great heavy chin ural about the whole transaction which made me
which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat wish to know a little more before I quite committed
sat at her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, myself.
looking very earnestly at the ladies who entered. “ ‘May I ask where you live, sir?’ said I.
As I came in he gave quite a jump in his chair and “ ‘Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Cop-
turned quickly to Miss Stoper. per Beeches, five miles on the far side of Winchester.
“ ‘That will do,’ said he; ‘I could not ask for It is the most lovely country, my dear young lady,
anything better. Capital! capital!’ He seemed quite and the dearest old country-house.’

2
 “ ‘And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know Stoper, I had best inspect a few more of your young
what they would be.’ ladies.’
“ ‘One child—one dear little romper just six “The manageress had sat all this while busy
years old. Oh, if you could see him killing cock- with her papers without a word to either of us, but
roaches with a slipper! Smack! smack! smack! she glanced at me now with so much annoyance
Three gone before you could wink!’ He leaned upon her face that I could not help suspecting that
back in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head she had lost a handsome commission through my
again. refusal.
“I was a little startled at the nature of the child’s “ ‘Do you desire your name to be kept upon the
amusement, but the father’s laughter made me books?’ she asked.
think that perhaps he was joking. “ ‘If you please, Miss Stoper.’
“ ‘My sole duties, then,’ I asked, ‘are to take “ ‘Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you
charge of a single child?’ refuse the most excellent offers in this fashion,’ said
“ ‘No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear she sharply. ‘You can hardly expect us to exert
young lady,’ he cried. ‘Your duty would be, as I ourselves to find another such opening for you.
am sure your good sense would suggest, to obey Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.’ She struck a gong
any little commands my wife might give, provided upon the table, and I was shown out by the page.
always that they were such commands as a lady “Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodg-
might with propriety obey. You see no difficulty, ings and found little enough in the cupboard, and
heh?’ two or three bills upon the table. I began to ask
“ ‘I should be happy to make myself useful.’ myself whether I had not done a very foolish thing.
After all, if these people had strange fads and ex-
“ ‘Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are
pected obedience on the most extraordinary mat-
faddy people, you know—faddy but kind-hearted.
ters, they were at least ready to pay for their ec-
If you were asked to wear any dress which we
centricity. Very few governesses in England are
might give you, you would not object to our little
getting £100 a year. Besides, what use was my hair
whim. Heh?’
to me? Many people are improved by wearing it
“ ‘No,’ said I, considerably astonished at his short and perhaps I should be among the number.
words. Next day I was inclined to think that I had made a
“ ‘Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be mistake, and by the day after I was sure of it. I had
offensive to you?’ almost overcome my pride so far as to go back to
the agency and inquire whether the place was still
“ ‘Oh, no.’ open when I received this letter from the gentleman
“ ‘Or to cut your hair quite short before you himself. I have it here and I will read it to you:
come to us?’
“ ‘The Copper Beeches, near Winchester.
“I could hardly believe my ears. As you may
“ ‘Dear Miss Hunter:
observe, Mr. Holmes, my hair is somewhat luxu-
“ ‘Miss Stoper has very kindly given
riant, and of a rather peculiar tint of chestnut. It
me your address, and I write from here
has been considered artistic. I could not dream of
to ask you whether you have reconsid-
sacrificing it in this offhand fashion.
ered your decision. My wife is very
“ ‘I am afraid that that is quite impossible,’ said anxious that you should come, for she
I. He had been watching me eagerly out of his small has been much attracted by my descrip-
eyes, and I could see a shadow pass over his face tion of you. We are willing to give £30
as I spoke. a quarter, or £120 a year, so as to recom-
“ ‘I am afraid that it is quite essential,’ said he. pense you for any little inconvenience
‘It is a little fancy of my wife’s, and ladies’ fan- which our fads may cause you. They
cies, you know, madam, ladies’ fancies must be are not very exacting, after all. My wife
consulted. And so you won’t cut your hair?’ is fond of a particular shade of electric
blue and would like you to wear such
“ ‘No, sir, I really could not,’ I answered firmly. a dress indoors in the morning. You
“ ‘Ah, very well; then that quite settles the mat- need not, however, go to the expense of
ter. It is a pity, because in other respects you would purchasing one, as we have one belong-
really have done very nicely. In that case, Miss ing to my dear daughter Alice (now in

3
 Philadelphia), which would, I should “Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you.
think, fit you very well. Then, as to I assure you that your little problem promises to
sitting here or there, or amusing your- be the most interesting which has come my way
self in any manner indicated, that need for some months. There is something distinctly
cause you no inconvenience. As regards novel about some of the features. If you should
your hair, it is no doubt a pity, espe- find yourself in doubt or in danger—”
cially as I could not help remarking its “Danger! What danger do you foresee?”
beauty during our short interview, but I
Holmes shook his head gravely. “It would cease
am afraid that I must remain firm upon
to be a danger if we could define it,” said he. “But
this point, and I only hope that the in-
at any time, day or night, a telegram would bring
creased salary may recompense you for
me down to your help.”
the loss. Your duties, as far as the child
is concerned, are very light. Now do try “That is enough.” She rose briskly from her
to come, and I shall meet you with the chair with the anxiety all swept from her face. “I
dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know shall go down to Hampshire quite easy in my mind
your train. now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, sacrifice
my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester to-
— “ ‘Yours faithfully,
morrow.” With a few grateful words to Holmes she
“ ‘Jephro Rucastle.’
bade us both good-night and bustled off upon her
“That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. way.
Holmes, and my mind is made up that I will accept “At least,” said I as we heard her quick, firm
it. I thought, however, that before taking the final steps descending the stairs, “she seems to be a
step I should like to submit the whole matter to young lady who is very well able to take care of
your consideration.” herself.”
“Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, “And she would need to be,” said Holmes
that settles the question,” said Holmes, smiling. gravely. “I am much mistaken if we do not hear
“But you would not advise me to refuse?” from her before many days are past.”
“I confess that it is not the situation which I It was not very long before my friend’s pre-
should like to see a sister of mine apply for.” diction was fulfilled. A fortnight went by, dur-
ing which I frequently found my thoughts turn-
“What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?” ing in her direction and wondering what strange
“Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you side-alley of human experience this lonely woman
have yourself formed some opinion?” had strayed into. The unusual salary, the curious
“Well, there seems to me to be only one possible conditions, the light duties, all pointed to some-
solution. Mr. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, thing abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or
good-natured man. Is it not possible that his wife whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain,
is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the matter quiet it was quite beyond my powers to determine. As
for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that to Holmes, I observed that he sat frequently for
he humours her fancies in every way in order to half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an
prevent an outbreak?” abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a
wave of his hand when I mentioned it. “Data! data!
“That is a possible solution—in fact, as matters
data!” he cried impatiently. “I can’t make bricks
stand, it is the most probable one. But in any case
without clay.” And yet he would always wind up
it does not seem to be a nice household for a young
by muttering that no sister of his should ever have
lady.”
accepted such a situation.
“But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!”
The telegram which we eventually received
“Well, yes, of course the pay is good—too good. came late one night just as I was thinking of turning
That is what makes me uneasy. Why should they in and Holmes was settling down to one of those
give you £120 a year, when they could have their all-night chemical researches which he frequently
pick for £40? There must be some strong reason indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over
behind.” a retort and a test-tube at night and find him in the
“I thought that if I told you the circumstances same position when I came down to breakfast in
you would understand afterwards if I wanted your the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, and
help. I should feel so much stronger if I felt that then, glancing at the message, threw it across to
you were at the back of me.” me.

4
 “Just look up the trains in Bradshaw,” said he, “But the reason is very obvious. The pressure
and turned back to his chemical studies. of public opinion can do in the town what the law
The summons was a brief and urgent one. cannot accomplish. There is no lane so vile that
the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of a
Please be at the Black Swan Hotel drunkard’s blow, does not beget sympathy and
at Winchester at midday to-morrow [it indignation among the neighbours, and then the
said]. Do come! I am at my wit’s end. whole machinery of justice is ever so close that a
— Hunter. word of complaint can set it going, and there is
but a step between the crime and the dock. But
“Will you come with me?” asked Holmes, glanc- look at these lonely houses, each in its own fields,
ing up. filled for the most part with poor ignorant folk who
“I should wish to.” know little of the law. Think of the deeds of hellish
“Just look it up, then.” cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on,
year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser.
“There is a train at half-past nine,” said I, glanc-
Had this lady who appeals to us for help gone to
ing over my Bradshaw. “It is due at Winchester at
live in Winchester, I should never have had a fear
11.30.”
for her. It is the five miles of country which makes
“That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had the danger. Still, it is clear that she is not personally
better postpone my analysis of the acetones, as we threatened.”
may need to be at our best in the morning.”
“No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us
By eleven o’clock the next day we were well she can get away.”
upon our way to the old English capital. Holmes
“Quite so. She has her freedom.”
had been buried in the morning papers all the way
down, but after we had passed the Hampshire bor- “What can be the matter, then? Can you suggest
der he threw them down and began to admire the no explanation?”
scenery. It was an ideal spring day, a light blue “I have devised seven separate explanations,
sky, flecked with little fleecy white clouds drift- each of which would cover the facts as far as we
ing across from west to east. The sun was shining know them. But which of these is correct can only
very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip be determined by the fresh information which we
in the air, which set an edge to a man’s energy. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is
All over the countryside, away to the rolling hills the tower of the cathedral, and we shall soon learn
around Aldershot, the little red and grey roofs of all that Miss Hunter has to tell.”
the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High
green of the new foliage. Street, at no distance from the station, and there
“Are they not fresh and beautiful?” I cried with we found the young lady waiting for us. She had
all the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch awaited us
Baker Street. upon the table.
But Holmes shook his head gravely. “I am so delighted that you have come,” she
“Do you know, Watson,” said he, “that it is one said earnestly. “It is so very kind of you both; but
of the curses of a mind with a turn like mine that I indeed I do not know what I should do. Your
must look at everything with reference to my own advice will be altogether invaluable to me.”
special subject. You look at these scattered houses, “Pray tell us what has happened to you.”
and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at “I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have
them, and the only thought which comes to me is a promised Mr. Rucastle to be back before three. I got
feeling of their isolation and of the impunity with his leave to come into town this morning, though
which crime may be committed there.” he little knew for what purpose.”
“Good heavens!” I cried. “Who would associate “Let us have everything in its due order.”
crime with these dear old homesteads?” Holmes thrust his long thin legs out towards the
“They always fill me with a certain horror. It is fire and composed himself to listen.
my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, “In the first place, I may say that I have met,
that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not on the whole, with no actual ill-treatment from Mr.
present a more dreadful record of sin than does the and Mrs. Rucastle. It is only fair to them to say that.
smiling and beautiful countryside.” But I cannot understand them, and I am not easy
“You horrify me!” in my mind about them.”

5
 “What can you not understand?” His whole life appears to be spent in an alterna-
tion between savage fits of passion and gloomy
“Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall
intervals of sulking. Giving pain to any creature
have it all just as it occurred. When I came down,
weaker than himself seems to be his one idea of
Mr. Rucastle met me here and drove me in his dog-
amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent
cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he said, beau-
in planning the capture of mice, little birds, and
tifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, for
insects. But I would rather not talk about the crea-
it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed,
ture, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he has little to do
but all stained and streaked with damp and bad
with my story.”
weather. There are grounds round it, woods on
three sides, and on the fourth a field which slopes “I am glad of all details,” remarked my friend,
down to the Southampton highroad, which curves “whether they seem to you to be relevant or not.”
past about a hundred yards from the front door.
“I shall try not to miss anything of importance.
This ground in front belongs to the house, but the
The one unpleasant thing about the house, which
woods all round are part of Lord Southerton’s pre-
struck me at once, was the appearance and conduct
serves. A clump of copper beeches immediately
of the servants. There are only two, a man and
in front of the hall door has given its name to the
his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough,
place.
uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and
“I was driven over by my employer, who was a perpetual smell of drink. Twice since I have been
as amiable as ever, and was introduced by him that with them he has been quite drunk, and yet Mr.
evening to his wife and the child. There was no Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. His wife
truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face,
to us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. as silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable.
Mrs. Rucastle is not mad. I found her to be a silent, They are a most unpleasant couple, but fortunately
pale-faced woman, much younger than her hus- I spend most of my time in the nursery and my
band, not more than thirty, I should think, while own room, which are next to each other in one
he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their corner of the building.
conversation I have gathered that they have been
“For two days after my arrival at the Copper
married about seven years, that he was a widower,
Beeches my life was very quiet; on the third, Mrs.
and that his only child by the first wife was the
Rucastle came down just after breakfast and whis-
daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Rucas-
pered something to her husband.
tle told me in private that the reason why she had
left them was that she had an unreasoning aversion “ ‘Oh, yes,’ said he, turning to me, ‘we are very
to her stepmother. As the daughter could not have much obliged to you, Miss Hunter, for falling in
been less than twenty, I can quite imagine that her with our whims so far as to cut your hair. I as-
position must have been uncomfortable with her sure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest iota
father’s young wife. from your appearance. We shall now see how the
electric-blue dress will become you. You will find
“Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in
it laid out upon the bed in your room, and if you
mind as well as in feature. She impressed me nei-
would be so good as to put it on we should both be
ther favourably nor the reverse. She was a nonentity.
extremely obliged.’
It was easy to see that she was passionately devoted
both to her husband and to her little son. Her light “The dress which I found waiting for me was
grey eyes wandered continually from one to the of a peculiar shade of blue. It was of excellent
other, noting every little want and forestalling it material, a sort of beige, but it bore unmistakable
if possible. He was kind to her also in his bluff, signs of having been worn before. It could not
boisterous fashion, and on the whole they seemed have been a better fit if I had been measured for
to be a happy couple. And yet she had some se- it. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight
cret sorrow, this woman. She would often be lost at the look of it, which seemed quite exaggerated
in deep thought, with the saddest look upon her in its vehemence. They were waiting for me in the
face. More than once I have surprised her in tears. drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretch-
I have thought sometimes that it was the disposi- ing along the entire front of the house, with three
tion of her child which weighed upon her mind, long windows reaching down to the floor. A chair
for I have never met so utterly spoiled and so ill- had been placed close to the central window, with
natured a little creature. He is small for his age, its back turned towards it. In this I was asked to
with a head which is quite disproportionately large. sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down

6
on the other side of the room, began to tell me a se- “ ‘No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?’ he asked.
ries of the funniest stories that I have ever listened “ ‘No, I know no one in these parts.’
to. You cannot imagine how comical he was, and
I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Rucastle, “ ‘Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn
however, who has evidently no sense of humour, round and motion to him to go away.’
never so much as smiled, but sat with her hands in “ ‘Surely it would be better to take no notice.’
her lap, and a sad, anxious look upon her face. Af- “ ‘No, no, we should have him loitering here
ter an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle suddenly remarked always. Kindly turn round and wave him away like
that it was time to commence the duties of the day, that.’
and that I might change my dress and go to little
Edward in the nursery. “I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs.
Rucastle drew down the blind. That was a week
“Two days later this same performance was
ago, and from that time I have not sat again in the
gone through under exactly similar circumstances.
window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor seen
Again I changed my dress, again I sat in the win-
the man in the road.”
dow, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny
stories of which my employer had an immense “Pray continue,” said Holmes. “Your narrative
répertoire, and which he told inimitably. Then he promises to be a most interesting one.”
handed me a yellow-backed novel, and moving my “You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and
chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might there may prove to be little relation between the
not fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud different incidents of which I speak. On the very
to him. I read for about ten minutes, beginning in first day that I was at the Copper Beeches, Mr. Ru-
the heart of a chapter, and then suddenly, in the castle took me to a small outhouse which stands
middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard
to change my dress. the sharp rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a
“You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curi- large animal moving about.
ous I became as to what the meaning of this extraor- “ ‘Look in here!’ said Mr. Rucastle, showing me
dinary performance could possibly be. They were a slit between two planks. ‘Is he not a beauty?’
always very careful, I observed, to turn my face
“I looked through and was conscious of two
away from the window, so that I became consumed
glowing eyes, and of a vague figure huddled up in
with the desire to see what was going on behind
the darkness.
my back. At first it seemed to be impossible, but I
soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been “ ‘Don’t be frightened,’ said my employer, laugh-
broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I con- ing at the start which I had given. ‘It’s only Carlo,
cealed a piece of the glass in my handkerchief. On my mastiff. I call him mine, but really old Toller,
the next occasion, in the midst of my laughter, I put my groom, is the only man who can do anything
my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able with with him. We feed him once a day, and not too
a little management to see all that there was behind much then, so that he is always as keen as mustard.
me. I confess that I was disappointed. There was Toller lets him loose every night, and God help the
nothing. At least that was my first impression. At trespasser whom he lays his fangs upon. For good-
the second glance, however, I perceived that there ness’ sake don’t you ever on any pretext set your
was a man standing in the Southampton Road, a foot over the threshold at night, for it’s as much as
small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to your life is worth.’
be looking in my direction. The road is an impor- “The warning was no idle one, for two nights
tant highway, and there are usually people there. later I happened to look out of my bedroom win-
This man, however, was leaning against the railings dow about two o’clock in the morning. It was a
which bordered our field and was looking earnestly beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of
up. I lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. the house was silvered over and almost as bright
Rucastle to find her eyes fixed upon me with a as day. I was standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty
most searching gaze. She said nothing, but I am of the scene, when I was aware that something was
convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror moving under the shadow of the copper beeches.
in my hand and had seen what was behind me. She As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was.
rose at once. It was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted,
“ ‘Jephro,’ said she, ‘there is an impertinent fel- with hanging jowl, black muzzle, and huge project-
low upon the road there who stares up at Miss ing bones. It walked slowly across the lawn and
Hunter.’ vanished into the shadow upon the other side. That

7
dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I while the fourth was shuttered up. They were ev-
do not think that any burglar could have done. idently all deserted. As I strolled up and down,
“And now I have a very strange experience to glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle came
tell you. I had, as you know, cut off my hair in out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever.
London, and I had placed it in a great coil at the “ ‘Ah!’ said he, ‘you must not think me rude if I
bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the child passed you without a word, my dear young lady. I
was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining was preoccupied with business matters.’
the furniture of my room and by rearranging my “I assured him that I was not offended. ‘By the
own little things. There was an old chest of drawers way,’ said I, ‘you seem to have quite a suite of spare
in the room, the two upper ones empty and open, rooms up there, and one of them has the shutters
the lower one locked. I had filled the first two with up.’
my linen, and as I had still much to pack away
I was naturally annoyed at not having the use of “He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me,
the third drawer. It struck me that it might have a little startled at my remark.
been fastened by a mere oversight, so I took out “ ‘Photography is one of my hobbies,’ said he.
my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very ‘I have made my dark room up there. But, dear me!
first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer what an observant young lady we have come upon.
open. There was only one thing in it, but I am sure Who would have believed it? Who would have ever
that you would never guess what it was. It was my believed it?’ He spoke in a jesting tone, but there
coil of hair. was no jest in his eyes as he looked at me. I read
“I took it up and examined it. It was of the suspicion there and annoyance, but no jest.
same peculiar tint, and the same thickness. But “Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I un-
then the impossibility of the thing obtruded itself derstood that there was something about that suite
upon me. How could my hair have been locked of rooms which I was not to know, I was all on fire
in the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, though
trunk, turned out the contents, and drew from the I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of
bottom my own hair. I laid the two tresses together, duty—a feeling that some good might come from
and I assure you that they were identical. Was my penetrating to this place. They talk of woman’s
it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could instinct; perhaps it was woman’s instinct which
make nothing at all of what it meant. I returned gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, and
the strange hair to the drawer, and I said nothing I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass
of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that I had put the forbidden door.
myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which “It was only yesterday that the chance came. I
they had locked. may tell you that, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller
“I am naturally observant, as you may have re- and his wife find something to do in these deserted
marked, Mr. Holmes, and I soon had a pretty good rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large black
plan of the whole house in my head. There was one linen bag with him through the door. Recently he
wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited has been drinking hard, and yesterday evening he
at all. A door which faced that which led into the was very drunk; and when I came upstairs there
quarters of the Tollers opened into this suite, but was the key in the door. I have no doubt at all that
it was invariably locked. One day, however, as I he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were
ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle coming out both downstairs, and the child was with them, so
through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look that I had an admirable opportunity. I turned the
on his face which made him a very different person key gently in the lock, opened the door, and slipped
to the round, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. through.
His cheeks were red, his brow was all crinkled with “There was a little passage in front of me, un-
anger, and the veins stood out at his temples with papered and uncarpeted, which turned at a right
passion. He locked the door and hurried past me angle at the farther end. Round this corner were
without a word or a look. three doors in a line, the first and third of which
“This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out were open. They each led into an empty room,
for a walk in the grounds with my charge, I strolled dusty and cheerless, with two windows in the one
round to the side from which I could see the win- and one in the other, so thick with dirt that the
dows of this part of the house. There were four of evening light glimmered dimly through them. The
them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, centre door was closed, and across the outside of

8
it had been fastened one of the broad bars of an longer without some advice. I was frightened of
iron bed, padlocked at one end to a ring in the wall, the house, of the man, of the woman, of the ser-
and fastened at the other with stout cord. The door vants, even of the child. They were all horrible to
itself was locked as well, and the key was not there. me. If I could only bring you down all would be
This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the well. Of course I might have fled from the house,
shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by but my curiosity was almost as strong as my fears.
the glimmer from beneath it that the room was not My mind was soon made up. I would send you a
in darkness. Evidently there was a skylight which wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the
let in light from above. As I stood in the passage office, which is about half a mile from the house,
gazing at the sinister door and wondering what and then returned, feeling very much easier. A hor-
secret it might veil, I suddenly heard the sound rible doubt came into my mind as I approached the
of steps within the room and saw a shadow pass door lest the dog might be loose, but I remembered
backward and forward against the little slit of dim that Toller had drunk himself into a state of insen-
light which shone out from under the door. A mad, sibility that evening, and I knew that he was the
unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. only one in the household who had any influence
Holmes. My overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, with the savage creature, or who would venture to
and I turned and ran—ran as though some dread- set him free. I slipped in in safety and lay awake
ful hand were behind me clutching at the skirt of half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing
my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the you. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come
door, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, into Winchester this morning, but I must be back
who was waiting outside. before three o’clock, for Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle are
“ ‘So,’ said he, smiling, ‘it was you, then. I going on a visit, and will be away all the evening,
thought that it must be when I saw the door open.’ so that I must look after the child. Now I have told
you all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should
“ ‘Oh, I am so frightened!’ I panted.
be very glad if you could tell me what it all means,
“ ‘My dear young lady! my dear young and, above all, what I should do.”
lady!’—you cannot think how caressing and sooth-
Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this
ing his manner was—‘and what has frightened you,
extraordinary story. My friend rose now and paced
my dear young lady?’
up and down the room, his hands in his pockets,
“But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He and an expression of the most profound gravity
overdid it. I was keenly on my guard against him. upon his face.
“ ‘I was foolish enough to go into the empty “Is Toller still drunk?” he asked.
wing,’ I answered. ‘But it is so lonely and eerie “Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she
in this dim light that I was frightened and ran out could do nothing with him.”
again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in there!’
“That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-
“ ‘Only that?’ said he, looking at me keenly. night?”
“ ‘Why, what did you think?’ I asked. “Yes.”
“ ‘Why do you think that I lock this door?’ “Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?”
“ ‘I am sure that I do not know.’ “Yes, the wine-cellar.”
“ ‘It is to keep people out who have no business “You seem to me to have acted all through this
there. Do you see?’ He was still smiling in the most matter like a very brave and sensible girl, Miss
amiable manner. Hunter. Do you think that you could perform one
“ ‘I am sure if I had known—’ more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not
“ ‘Well, then, you know now. And if you ever think you a quite exceptional woman.”
put your foot over that threshold again’—here in “I will try. What is it?”
an instant the smile hardened into a grin of rage, “We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven
and he glared down at me with the face of a de- o’clock, my friend and I. The Rucastles will be gone
mon—‘I’ll throw you to the mastiff.’ by that time, and Toller will, we hope, be incapable.
“I was so terrified that I do not know what I There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might give the
did. I suppose that I must have rushed past him alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some
into my room. I remember nothing until I found errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would
myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I facilitate matters immensely.”
thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there “I will do it.”

9
 “Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into A loud thudding noise came from somewhere
the affair. Of course there is only one feasible expla- downstairs. “That is Mrs. Toller in the cellar,” said
nation. You have been brought there to personate she. “Her husband lies snoring on the kitchen rug.
someone, and the real person is imprisoned in this Here are his keys, which are the duplicates of Mr.
chamber. That is obvious. As to who this prisoner Rucastle’s.”
is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss “You have done well indeed!” cried Holmes
Alice Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said with enthusiasm. “Now lead the way, and we shall
to have gone to America. You were chosen, doubt- soon see the end of this black business.”
less, as resembling her in height, figure, and the We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, fol-
colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very lowed on down a passage, and found ourselves
possibly in some illness through which she has in front of the barricade which Miss Hunter had
passed, and so, of course, yours had to be sacri- described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the
ficed also. By a curious chance you came upon transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in
her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly the lock, but without success. No sound came from
some friend of hers—possibly her fiancé—and no within, and at the silence Holmes’ face clouded
doubt, as you wore the girl’s dress and were so like over.
her, he was convinced from your laughter, when- “I trust that we are not too late,” said he. “I
ever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, think, Miss Hunter, that we had better go in with-
that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that out you. Now, Watson, put your shoulder to it, and
she no longer desired his attentions. The dog is let we shall see whether we cannot make our way in.”
loose at night to prevent him from endeavouring to
It was an old rickety door and gave at once be-
communicate with her. So much is fairly clear. The
fore our united strength. Together we rushed into
most serious point in the case is the disposition of
the room. It was empty. There was no furniture
the child.”
save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a basket-
“What on earth has that to do with it?” I ejacu- ful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the
lated. prisoner gone.
“My dear Watson, you as a medical man are “There has been some villainy here,” said
continually gaining light as to the tendencies of a Holmes; “this beauty has guessed Miss Hunter’s
child by the study of the parents. Don’t you see intentions and has carried his victim off.”
that the converse is equally valid. I have frequently “But how?”
gained my first real insight into the character of “Through the skylight. We shall soon see how
parents by studying their children. This child’s dis- he managed it.” He swung himself up onto the roof.
position is abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty’s “Ah, yes,” he cried, “here’s the end of a long light
sake, and whether he derives this from his smiling ladder against the eaves. That is how he did it.”
father, as I should suspect, or from his mother, it “But it is impossible,” said Miss Hunter; “the
bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their power.” ladder was not there when the Rucastles went
“I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes,” cried away.”
our client. “A thousand things come back to me “He has come back and done it. I tell you that
which make me certain that you have hit it. Oh, let he is a clever and dangerous man. I should not be
us lose not an instant in bringing help to this poor very much surprised if this were he whose step I
creature.” hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it
would be as well for you to have your pistol ready.”
“We must be circumspect, for we are dealing
The words were hardly out of his mouth before
with a very cunning man. We can do nothing until
a man appeared at the door of the room, a very
seven o’clock. At that hour we shall be with you,
fat and burly man, with a heavy stick in his hand.
and it will not be long before we solve the mystery.”
Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the wall
We were as good as our word, for it was just at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang
seven when we reached the Copper Beeches, hav- forward and confronted him.
ing put up our trap at a wayside public-house. The “You villain!” said he, “where’s your daugh-
group of trees, with their dark leaves shining like ter?”
burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at
sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter the open skylight.
not been standing smiling on the door-step.
“It is for me to ask you that,” he shrieked, “you
“Have you managed it?” asked Holmes. thieves! Spies and thieves! I have caught you, have

10
I? You are in my power. I’ll serve you!” He turned but it never really became bad for her until after
and clattered down the stairs as hard as he could she met Mr. Fowler at a friend’s house. As well
go. as I could learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own
“He’s gone for the dog!” cried Miss Hunter. by will, but she was so quiet and patient, she was,
that she never said a word about them but just left
“I have my revolver,” said I. everything in Mr. Rucastle’s hands. He knew he
“Better close the front door,” cried Holmes, and was safe with her; but when there was a chance
we all rushed down the stairs together. We had of a husband coming forward, who would ask for
hardly reached the hall when we heard the bay- all that the law would give him, then her father
ing of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her
a horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to sign a paper, so that whether she married or not,
to listen to. An elderly man with a red face and he could use her money. When she wouldn’t do it,
shaking limbs came staggering out at a side door. he kept on worrying her until she got brain-fever,
“My God!” he cried. “Someone has loosed the and for six weeks was at death’s door. Then she
dog. It’s not been fed for two days. Quick, quick, got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with
or it’ll be too late!” her beautiful hair cut off; but that didn’t make no
change in her young man, and he stuck to her as
Holmes and I rushed out and round the an-
true as man could be.”
gle of the house, with Toller hurrying behind us.
There was the huge famished brute, its black muz- “Ah,” said Holmes, “I think that what you have
zle buried in Rucastle’s throat, while he writhed been good enough to tell us makes the matter fairly
and screamed upon the ground. Running up, I clear, and that I can deduce all that remains. Mr.
blew its brains out, and it fell over with its keen Rucastle then, I presume, took to this system of
white teeth still meeting in the great creases of his imprisonment?”
neck. With much labour we separated them and “Yes, sir.”
carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the “And brought Miss Hunter down from London
house. We laid him upon the drawing-room sofa, in order to get rid of the disagreeable persistence
and having dispatched the sobered Toller to bear of Mr. Fowler.”
the news to his wife, I did what I could to relieve “That was it, sir.”
his pain. We were all assembled round him when “But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a
the door opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered good seaman should be, blockaded the house, and
the room. having met you succeeded by certain arguments,
“Mrs. Toller!” cried Miss Hunter. metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your
“Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he interests were the same as his.”
came back before he went up to you. Ah, miss, it “Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-
is a pity you didn’t let me know what you were handed gentleman,” said Mrs. Toller serenely.
planning, for I would have told you that your pains “And in this way he managed that your good
were wasted.” man should have no want of drink, and that a lad-
“Ha!” said Holmes, looking keenly at her. “It is der should be ready at the moment when your
clear that Mrs. Toller knows more about this matter master had gone out.”
than anyone else.” “You have it, sir, just as it happened.”
“Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell “I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller,”
what I know.” said Holmes, “for you have certainly cleared up
everything which puzzled us. And here comes the
“Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for
country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, Wat-
there are several points on which I must confess
son, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to
that I am still in the dark.”
Winchester, as it seems to me that our locus standi
“I will soon make it clear to you,” said she; “and now is rather a questionable one.”
I’d have done so before now if I could ha’ got out And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister
from the cellar. If there’s police-court business over house with the copper beeches in front of the door.
this, you’ll remember that I was the one that stood Mr. Rucastle survived, but was always a broken
your friend, and that I was Miss Alice’s friend too. man, kept alive solely through the care of his de-
“She was never happy at home, Miss Alice voted wife. They still live with their old servants,
wasn’t, from the time that her father married again. who probably know so much of Rucastle’s past
She was slighted like and had no say in anything, life that he finds it difficult to part from them. Mr.

11
Fowler and Miss Rucastle were married, by special ment, manifested no further interest in her when
license, in Southampton the day after their flight, once she had ceased to be the centre of one of his
and he is now the holder of a government appoint- problems, and she is now the head of a private
ment in the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet school at Walsall, where I believe that she has met
Hunter, my friend Holmes, rather to my disappoint- with considerable success.

12