government and of the better classes of the community in the South. Eventually,

in the year 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have

been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.’


“You will observe,” said Holmes, laying down the volume,

“that the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the

disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may well have been

cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his family have some of the more

implacable spirits upon their track. You can understand that this register and

diary may implicate some of the first men in the South, and that there may be

many who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered.”


“Then the page we have seen—”


“Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, ‘sent the

pips to A, B, and C’—that is, sent the society’s warning to

them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or left the

country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a sinister result for C.

Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let some light into this dark place, and I

believe that the only chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I

have told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done to-night, so hand

me over my violin and let us try to forget for half an hour the miserable

weather and the still more miserable ways of our fellow men.”


It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a subdued

brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the great city. Sherlock

Holmes was already at breakfast when I came down.


“You will excuse me for not waiting for you,” said he; “I

have, I foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of young

Openshaw’s.”


“What steps will you take?” I asked.


“It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. I may

have to go down to Horsham, after all.”


“You will not go there first?”