The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes by Adrian Conan Doyle & John Dickson Carr

Author:Adrian Conan Doyle & John Dickson Carr [Doyle, Adrian Conan & Carr, John Dickson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

7

The Adventure of Foulkes Rath

"This is a most curious affair," I said, dropping The Times on the floor. "Indeed, I am

surprised that the family have not already consulted you."

My friend Sherlock Holmes turned away from the window and threw himself into his

arm-chair.

"I take it that you refer to the murder at Foulkes Rath," he said languidly. "If so, this

might interest you, Watson. It arrived before breakfast."

He had drawn a buff-colored form from the pocket of his dressing-gown and now passed

it across to me. The telegram, which bore the postmark of Forest Row, Sussex, ran as

follows: "Having regard to Addleton affairs, propose to call on you at 10:15 precisely.

Vincent."

Picking up The Times again, I ran my eye quickly down the column. "There is no

mention of anybody named Vincent," I said.

"A fact of no importance whatever," replied Holmes impatiently. "Let us assume, from the

phraseology of the telegram, that he is a lawyer of the old school employed by the

Addleton family. As I observe, Watson, that we have a few minutes in hand, pray refresh

my memory by running over the salient points from the account in this morning's paper,

while omitting all irrelevant observations from their correspondent."

Holmes, having filled his clay pipe with shag from the Persian slipper, leaned back in his

chair and contemplated the ceiling through a cloud of pungent blue smoke.

"The tragedy occurred at Foulkes Rath," I began, "an ancient Sussex manor-house near

Forest Row on Ashdown Forest. The curious name of the house is derived from the

circumstance that there is an old burial ground—"

"Keep to the facts, Watson."

"The property was owned by Colonel Matthias Addleton," I continued rather stiffly.

"Squire Addleton, as he was known, was the local Justice of the Peace and the richest

landowner in the district. The household at Foulkes Rath consisted of the squire, his nephew

Percy Longton, the butler Morstead and four indoor servants. In addition, there is an outside

staff consisting of the lodge-keeper, a groom and several gamekeepers who occupy cottages

on the boundaries of the estate. Last night, Squire Addleton and his nephew dined at their usual

hour of eight o'clock and after dinner the squire sent for his horse and was absent for about an

hour. On his return, shortly before ten, he took a glass of port with his nephew in the hall.

The two men appear to have been quarrelling, for the butler has stated that, on entering with

the port, he remarked that the squire was flushed and brusque in his manner."

"And the nephew, Longton I think you said his name was?" Holmes interrupted.

"According to the butler, he did not see Longton's face as the young man walked to the

window and stood there looking out into the night while the butler was in the room. On

retiring, however, the butler caught the sounds of their voices in a furious altercation. Shortly

after midnight, the household was roused by a loud cry apparently from the hall and, on rushing

down in their night-clothes, they were horrified to discover Squire Addleton lying senseless in a

pool of blood with his head split open. Standing beside the body of the dying man was Mr.

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