The next morning, the air was fresh and the scenery was beautiful, which somewhat dispelled some of the fear or depressive impressions we had when we first saw Bathcowell Manor yesterday. When Henry and I sat down to breakfast, the morning light had already dropped from the high sky.

The window lattice scatters into the room, projecting patches of light through the coat-of-arms-shaped windowpanes installed on the windows. The dark wainscoting glows like bronze under the sunlight. This is what happened last night

Is it the house that creates a dark impression on our psyche? It’s really unbelievable.

"I think we can only blame ourselves, not the house." Henry said, "Yesterday, we were tired from the journey and the carriage was cold, so we had an unpleasant impression of the manor. Now, our bodies and minds have been

I got some rest, so I felt relaxed and happy again.”

"But it's not just a matter of imagination," I said. "For example, did you hear someone - a woman - sobbing last night?"

"It's strange. I did hear sobbing when I was half asleep. I waited for a long time, but I couldn't hear it anymore, so I thought it was just a dream."

"I heard clearly, and I'm sure it was a woman sobbing."

"We have to ask about this immediately." Henry rang the bell and called Barrymore and asked him if he could explain the sobbing we heard. I found that Barrymore heard the question Henry asked.

Later, his face became paler.

"Master, there are only two women in the manor." Barrymore said: "One is the maid, she sleeps in the wing opposite. The other is my wife, but I can guarantee that the sobbing is definitely not coming from my wife.

of."

However, it later turned out that Barrymore was lying. After breakfast, I happened to meet his wife on the promenade. The sun shone on her face. She was a fat, tall woman with a somewhat cold appearance and a swollen smile on her face.

She also looked a little serious. But her eyes were red and could not be concealed at all. She also glanced at me with red and swollen eyes. She was the one who was sobbing at night. If she had indeed been sobbing, Barrymore would definitely know the reason.

, but he actually risked being discovered and denied the facts. Why did he do this? Also, why was his wife sobbing so sadly? There were already people around the fair-faced, handsome steward with a black beard.

It created a mysterious atmosphere. It was he who first discovered the body of Sir Charles, and it was only from him that we learned some of the circumstances of the original owner’s death. Holmes and I saw him sitting in a carriage in Regent Street.

Is it possible that the person in it is Barrymore? The beard may be the biggest suspicion.

However, the impression that coachman John Clayton described as a man of short stature may be wrong. How could I find out? Obviously, my first step was to find Green.

I asked the postmaster of Basin to find out whether the tentative telegram was actually delivered to Barrymore in person. Whatever the answer, I should at least have something to report to Holmes.

After breakfast, Henry had a lot of documents to look through, so this time was the best time for me to go out. This was a pleasant walk for me. I walked 6.4 kilometers along the edge of the swamp, and finally

I came to a desolate small village. There were two big houses in the village that were taller than the other houses. I later learned that one was a hotel and the other was Dr. Mortimer's house. The postmaster - also from this small village.

The grocery store merchant remembers that telegram clearly.

"I am absolutely certain, sir," he said, "that I ordered the telegram to be delivered to Mr. Barrymore in full accordance with instructions."

"Who sent it?"

"My boy," said the postmaster to his boy, "James, it was you who delivered that telegram to Mr. Barrymore, who lives at Bascoville Hall, last week, wasn't it?"

"Dad, yes."

"James, did he sign for it personally?" I asked.

"Oh, Mr. Barrymore was upstairs at that time! So I did not put it into his hands myself, but I put it into Mrs. Barrymore's, and she promised to send it up at once.

"

"Did you see Mr. Barrymore with your own eyes?"

"No, sir, I'm telling you, he is upstairs!" "James, if you didn't see him with your own eyes, how can you be sure that he is upstairs?"

"Oh, of course, his own wife should know where he is!" the postmaster said angrily, "Has he received the telegram? If something goes wrong, it should be Mr. Barrymore himself.

Question!"

It seems hopeless to continue the investigation, but one thing is quite clear. Despite Holmes's clever tricks, we have not been able to prove whether Barrymore has been in the city. If this is the case - if he is

The last person to see Sir Charles alive was also the first person to follow Henry, who had just returned to England. So what? Was he acting under orders, or was it part of a personal conspiracy? The murder of the Bathcowell family

What good will it do to him? I thought of the warning letter cut and pasted from the comments of The Times. Is this what he did? Or was there someone determined to oppose his conspiracy?

The only thing that can be imagined is the motive that Henry guessed, that is, if the owner of the manor is too scared to live there anymore, then the Barrymores will easily get a comfortable manor. However, this explanation

, it seems difficult to explain the invisible web and well-planned conspiracy woven around young Henry. Holmes once said that in the long list of shocking cases in his memory, there is no other case like this.

This incident was even more bizarre and complicated. As I walked back to the manor along the gray and silent road, I prayed silently that Holmes would come here from his busy affairs and relieve me of the heavy burden on my shoulders.

!

Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of running and a voice calling my name. I thought it was Dr. Mortimer, but when I turned around, to my great surprise, the person chasing me was actually a stranger. This is

A thin, low, clean-shaven man with a good appearance. He has light yellow hair and a pointed chin. He is about 30 to 40 years old. He is wearing gray clothes and a straw hat.

, a thin herbarium box was slung on one shoulder, and a green butterfly net was held in the other hand.

"Dr. Watson, I believe you will forgive me for interrupting!" When he ran to me, he gasped and said: "In this swamp, people are like a family, and they don't even need to meet each other.

Formal introduction. I believe you have heard my name from our friend Dr. Mortimer. I am Stapleton, and I live in Merripit."

"Your wooden box and butterfly net have told me clearly." I said, "I have known that you are a biologist, but how do you know me?"

"When I called on Dr. Mortimer, you happened to pass by his window, and he introduced you to me. We were walking on the same road, so I caught up with you and introduced myself. I believe

, Sir Henry’s journey went well, right?”

"Thank you, Sir Henry is very well."

"After the sudden death of Sir Sir Charles, we were all concerned that the new baronet might not want to live here. It does not make sense that a wealthy man should condescend to such a place. But I need not say more.

, this is indeed of great importance to the area where we live. I don’t think Sir Henry has superstitious fears, right?”

"I don't think so."

"You must have heard about the legend of the devilish hunting dog that haunts this family, right?"

"I heard about it."

"The people here are so easy to believe in rumors! Every one of them swears that they have seen such a beast wandering in this swamp." Stapleton said with a sneer, but I seemed to see it from his eyes.

It can be seen that he is serious about this matter.

He said: "This incident had a great psychological impact on Sir Childs. I am certain that it was because of this incident that Sir Childs ended up in such a tragic ending."

"How could this happen?"

"Sir Charles's nerves were so frayed that the sight of a dog had a fatal effect on his severe heart disease. I think he was really

I saw a similar guy. I used to worry about some disaster. I liked Sir Charles very much, and I also knew about his heart failure."

"How do you know this?"

"Dr. Mortimer told me."

"Then, do you think Sir Charles was frightened to death when a dog-like guy was chasing him?"

"Other than that, what better explanation do you have?" "I haven't made any inferences yet."

"Where is Mr. Sherlock Holmes's reasoning?"

This question made me stop breathing for a moment, but when I looked at Stapleton again, his gentle and quiet face and calm eyes made me feel that he did not mean to surprise me.

"It is impossible for us to pretend that we do not know you, Dr. Watson." He said: "We here have already read your wonderful account of the detective case, and it is difficult for you to praise Holmes at the same time.

, without making yourself famous. When Dr. Mortimer spoke to me of you, he could hardly deny your identity. Now that you are here, it is evident that Mr. Holmes himself was interested in the case.

Since he is interested, I naturally want to know what his views on this case are."

"I'm afraid I can't answer your question."

"I would venture to ask whether Mr. Holmes would be honored to come here himself?"

"Currently, he is unable to leave the city of London. He is concentrating on investigating other cases."

"What a pity! Mr. Holmes may be able to bring some results to this difficult matter. If I can be of service during your investigation, please feel free to do so. If I can know your doubts, or if you are prepared to

How to carry out investigation work, I may be able to assist immediately or make good suggestions."

"I am only here to accompany my friend Sir Henry, and I need no assistance."

"Okay!" said Stapleton, "you are absolutely right to be so cautious. My idea seems to be just unreasonable meddling. Dr. Watson, I promise you, I will never mention it again in the future.

This is what happened."

We passed a narrow grassy path that branched off from the main road. The path zigzagged through the swamp. On the right was a steep rocky hill that had long been opened up into a granite quarry. On the side facing us

It is a gray cliff, with ferns, thorns, etc. growing in the gaps; a gray smoke floats on the hillside in the distance.

"You can reach Merripit by walking slowly along the path in this swamp for a while." Stapleton said, "Perhaps you can spare an hour. I would be happy to introduce you to my sister.

know."

My first thought was that I should accompany Henry, but then I remembered the pile of documents, securities and other things on the desk. I could not assist him in these matters, and Holmes had specifically asked

It was suggested to me that an investigation should be made of the neighbors on the marshes of Bathcowell Hall. So I accepted Stapleton's invitation and walked together on the footpath.

"This is a magical swamp area." Stapleton said, looking around. The rolling hills are like green waves; the granite tops are scattered at random, as if they are all kinds of strange water splashes stirred up by the waves.

"You will never get bored of this swamp. You can never imagine the wonderful secrets in the swamp. It is so vast, so desolate, and so mysterious." He sighed.

"So, you must know the swamp very well, right?" "I have only lived here for two years, and the local people still call me a new resident. When we first settled here, Sir Charles was also here.

Not long after my residence, my interest led me to examine every part of the country, so that I think few people can understand it better than I do."

"Is it difficult to understand this place?"
To be continued...