Sherlock Holmes Short Stories - The Adventure of the Copper Beeches: Part One

Episode Date: July 2, 2025

When a young governess is offered a startlingly high salary for a simple post in the Hampshire countryside, she turns to Holmes for advice. Her new employer’s peculiar conditions—cutting her hair short, wearing a particular dress, and sitting by a specific window at certain times—hint at a potentially sinister motive... Soon, Holmes and Watson find themselves drawn into a case where nothing and no one are quite what they seem.  A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Hugh Bonneville  Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Produced by Katrina Hughes Script Supervisor: Addison Nugent Sound Design and Audio Editing by Josh Latham Sound Supervisor: Tom Pink Compositions: Dorry Macaulay and Oliver Baines Mix & Mastering: Liam Cameron Series Consultant: Dan Smith For ad-free listening and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by Dazon. For the first time ever, the 32 best soccer clubs from across the world are coming together to decide who the undisputed champions of the world are in the FIFA Club World Cup. The world's best players, Messi, Holland, Kane and more are all taking part. And you can watch every match for free on Dazon, starting on June 14th and running until July 13th. Sign up now at dazone.com slash fifa. That's d-a-z-n dot com slash fifa. I'm Hugh Bonneville and welcome to Sherlock Holmes Short Stories, the series where we delve into the files of fiction's most brilliant detective. Following his keen mind and unerring instincts from

the first subtle clue to the final dramatic revelation. This time we encounter the darkness that lurks within the heart of the English countryside in The Adventure of the Copper Beaches. When a young governess is offered an unusually high salary for a seemingly simple position, something about the situation troubles her. The pay is remarkable, but so are the conditions. She must cut her beautiful auburn hair short, wear a specific blue dress, and sit in a particular spot in the drawing room window every day.

In this remote Hampshire estate, nothing is quite what it seems. Every smile conceals a sinister motive, every pleasant word hides a threat, and deep within one of its darkened wings, a deadly secret waits to be uncovered. From the Noiser podcast network this is the adventure of the Copper Beaches part 1. To the man who loves art for its own sake, remarked Sherlock Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily Telegraph, it is frequently in its least important 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 truth, that in these little records of our cases, which you have been

good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much to the many cause celebre, and sensational trials in which I have figured, but rather to those incidents which may have been trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made my special province." "'And yet,' said I, smiling, I cannot quite hold myself absolved from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my records. You have erred, perhaps, he observed, taking up a glowing cinder with the tongs, and lighting with it the long cherry-wood pipe,

which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a disputatious rather than a meditative mood. mood. You have erred, perhaps, in attempting to put color and life into each of your statements, instead of confining yourself to the task of placing upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect, which is really the only notable feature about the thing. It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter,' I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my friend's singular character. "'No, it is not selfishness or conceit,' said he, answering, as was his won't, my thoughts rather than my words.

"'If I claim full justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing, a thing beyond myself. Crime is common, logic is rare. Therefore, it is upon the logic, rather than upon the crime, that you should dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of lectures into a series of tales. It was a cold morning of the early spring,

and we sat after breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of dun-colored houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit, and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the advertisement columns of a succession of papers, until at last,

having apparently given up his 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 yourself in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime in its legal sense at all. The small matter in which I endeavored to help the King of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the incident of the noble bachelor were all matters which are outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding

the sensational, I fear that you may have bordered on the trivial. The end may have been so, I answered, but the methods I hold to have been novel and of interest. Ha! My dear fellow, what do the public, the great, unobservant public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth, or a compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of analysis and deduction? But indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an agency for recovering lost lead pencils, and giving

advice to young ladies from boarding schools. I think that I have touched bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my zero point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across to me. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and ran thus. Dear Mr. Holmes, I am very anxious to consult you as to whether I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered to me as governess. I shall call at half past ten tomorrow if I do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, Violet Hunter. Do you know the young lady? I asked. Not I. It is half past ten now. Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring.

It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. Remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. It may be so in this case also. Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." As he spoke, the door opened, and a young lady entered the room. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a woman who has had her own way to make in the world. You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my companion rose to greet her. But I have had a very strange experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort from whom I could ask advice,

I thought that perhaps you would be kind enough to tell me what I should do. Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything that I can to serve you." I could see that Holmes was favorably impressed by the manner and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching fashion and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and his fingertips together, to listen to her story. "'I have been a governess for five years,' said she, in the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the Colonel received an appointment at Halifax in Nova Scotia, and took his children over to America with him, so that I found myself without a situation.

I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but without success. At last the little money which I had saved began to run short, and I was at my wits' end as to what I should do. There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End called Westerways, and there I used to call about once a week in order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. Westerway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in

an anteroom, and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat, sat at her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in, he gave quite a jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper.

That will do, said he. I could not ask for anything better. Capital, capital! He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at him. You are looking for a situation, miss? he asked. Yes, sir. As governors?

Yes, sir. And what salary do you ask? I had four pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence Monroe. Tut tut. Sweating, rank sweating, he cried, throwing his fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling passion. How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with such attractions and accomplishments? to a lady with such attractions and accomplishments." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I.

A little French, a little German, music, and drawing. Tat, tat!' he cried. "'This is all quite beside the question. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment of a lady?' There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are not fitted for the rearing of a child who may someday play a considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have, why then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to accept anything under

the three figures? Your salary with me, madam, would commence at one hundred pounds a year." You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, opened a pocket-book and took out a note. It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant fashion, until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid the white creases of his face, to advance to my young ladies half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little expenses of their journey and their wardrobe. It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesman, the advance was a great convenience. And yet there was something unnatural about the whole transaction,

which made me wish to know a little more before I quite committed myself. May I ask where you live, sir? said I. Hampshire, charming rural place, the Copper Beaches, five miles on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my dear young lady, and the dearest old country house. And my duties, sir, I should be glad to know what they would be. One child, one dear little romper just six years old, if you could see him killing cockroaches

with a slipper. Smack, smack, smack, three gone before you could wink. He leaned back in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was joking. My sole duties, then, I asked, are to take charge of a single child. No, no, not the soul, not the soul, my dear young lady, he cried. Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would suggest, to obey any

little commands my wife might give, provided always that they were such commands as a lady might with propriety obey. You see no difficulty, eh? I should be happy to make myself useful. Quite so. In dress, now, for example, we are faddy people, you know, faddy, but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim, eh? No, said I, considerably astonished at his words. Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to you. Oh, no. Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us.

I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of sacrificing it in this offhand fashion." I am afraid that that is quite impossible, said I. He had been watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. "'It is a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your hair?'

"'No, sir, I really could not, I answered firmly. Ah, very well. Then that quite settles the matter. It is a pity, because in other respects you would really have done very nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more of your young ladies. When planning for life's most important moments, sometimes the hardest part is simply knowing where to start. That's why we're here to help. When you pre-plan and prepay a celebration of life with us, every detail will be handled

with simplicity and professionalism, giving you the peace of mind that you've done all you can today to remove any burden from your loved ones tomorrow. We are your local Dignity Memorial provider. Find us at DignityMemorial.ca. The Dignity Memorial branding is used to identify a network of licensed funeral cremation and cemetery providers owned and operated by affiliates of Service Corporation International. The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so much annoyance upon her face, that I could not help suspecting that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal.

"'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "'Well, really, it seems rather useless since you refuse the most excellent offers in this fashion. Said she, sharply. You can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such opening for you. Good day to you, Miss Hunter. She struck a gong upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found little enough in the cupboard and two or three bills upon the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very

foolish thing. After all, if these people had their strange fads and expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few governesses in England are getting £100 a year. Besides, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing it short, and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after, I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open when I received this letter from the gentleman himself.

I have it here, and I will read it to you. The Copper Beaches near Winchester. Dear Miss Hunter, Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your address and I write from here to ask you whether you have reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of you. We are willing to give thirty pounds a quarter, or one hundred and twenty pounds a year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My wife is fond of a particular shade

of electric blue, and would like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one belonging to my dear daughter Alice, now in Philadelphia, which would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting here, or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary may recompense you for the loss. Your duties as far as the child is concerned are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall meet you with the dog cart at Winchester.

Let me know your train. Yours faithfully, Jephro Roo Castle. Yours faithfully, Jephro Rookarsle. That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, that before taking the final step, I should like to submit the whole matter to your consideration." "'Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the question,' said Holmes, smiling. "'But you would not advise me to refuse. I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to see a sister of mine apply for.' "'What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes? Ah, I have no data. I

cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself formed some opinion. Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that he humors her fancies in every way in order to prevent an outbreak? That is a possible solution. In fact, as matters stand, it is the most probable one. But in any case, it does not seem to be a nice household for a young lady.

But the money, Mr. Holmes? The money? Well, yes, of course, the pay is good. Too good. That is what makes me uneasy. Why should they give you one hundred and twenty pounds a year when they could have their pick for forty pounds? There must be some strong reason behind." I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would understand afterwards if I wanted

your help, I should feel so much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me. Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt or in danger— Danger? What danger do you foresee?" Holmes shook his head gravely. "'It would cease to be a danger if we could define it,' said he, "'but at any time, day or night, a telegram would bring me down to your help.' "'That is enough.' She rose briskly from her chair, with the anxiety all swept from her face. "'I shall go down to Hampshire quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Brewcastle at once, sacrifice my poor hair tonight, and start for Winchester

tomorrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes, she bade us both good night, and bustled off upon her way. At least, said I, as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the stairs, she seems to be a young lady who is very well able to take care of herself. And she would need to be, said Holmes gravely. I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled.

A fortnight went by during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad, or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat frequently for half an hour on end with knitted brows and an abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his hand when I mentioned it. "'Data!

Data! Data!' he cried impatiently. I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever have accepted such a situation. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night, just as I was thinking of turning in, and Holmes was settling down to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a test tube at night, and find him in the same position when I came down to breakfast in the morning.

He opened the yellow envelope, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. Just look up the trains in Bradshaw, said he, and turned back to his chemical studies. The summons was a brief and urgent one. Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday tomorrow, it said. Do come. I am at my wit's end. Hunter. Will you come with me? Asked Tomes, glancing up. I should wish to. Just look it up then. But there is a train at half past nine, said I,

glancing over my Bradshaw. It is due at Winchester at 11.30. That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the morning. By 11 o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border,

he threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal spring day, a light blue sky flecked with little fleecy white clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air which set an edge to a man's energy. was an exhilarating nip in the air which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and grey roofs of the farmsteadings peeped out from amid the light green of the new foliage. "'Are they not fresh and beautiful?' I cried with all the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. But Holmes shook his head gravely. "'Do you know, Watson,' said he, "'that it is one of the curses of a mind with a turn like mine, that I must look at everything with reference to my own special subject? You look at these scattered

houses and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed there. Good heavens, I cried, who would associate crime with these dear old homesteads? They always fill me with a certain horror, and it is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside. You horrify me!

But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child or the thud of a drunkard's blow does not beget sympathy and indignation among the neighbors, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law.

Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on year in, year out in such places, and none the wiser. Had this lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is not personally threatened. No, if she can come to Winchester to meet us, she can get away. Quite so. She has her freedom. What can be the matter then? Can you suggest no explanation? I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would cover the facts as far

as we know them. But which of these is correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the Tower of the Cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has to tell. Introducing TurboTax Business, a brand new way to file your own T2 return, all while getting help from an expert who actually knows small businesses. Got a tattoo studio, toy store? Tiny but mighty taco stand?

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I am so delighted that you have come, she said earnestly. It is so very kind of you both, but indeed I do not know what I should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me. Pray, tell us what has happened to you. I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose. Let us have everything in its due order. Holmes thrust his long, thin legs out towards the fire, and composed himself to listen. In the first place, I may say that I have met on the whole with no actual ill treatment

from Mr. and Mrs. Rue Castle. It is only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and I am not easy in my mind about them." "'What can you not understand?' "'Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here, and drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beaches. It is, as he said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, for it is a

large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field, which slopes down to the Southampton High Road, which curves past about a hundred yards from the front door. The ground in front belongs to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beaches immediately in front of the hall door has given its name to the

place. I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seems to us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Ruecastle is not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, while he can hardly be less than forty-five.

From their conversation I have gathered that they have been married about seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Ruecastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her father's young wife. Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colorless in mind as well as in feature. She impressed me neither favorably nor the reverse.

She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light gray eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, this woman.

She would often be lost in deep thought with the saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning the capture of mice, little birds, and insects.

But I would rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and indeed he has little to do with my story. I am glad of all details, remarked my friend, whether they seem to you to be relevant or not. I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one unpleasant thing about the house which struck me at once was the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers and a perpetual smell of drink. Twice,

since I have been with them, he has been quite drunk, and yet Mr. Ruecastle seemed to take no notice of it. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as silent as Mrs. Rue Castle and much less amiable. They are a most unpleasant couple. But fortunately, I spend most of my time in the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one corner of the building. For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beaches, my life was very quiet. On the third, Mrs. Rue Castle came down just after breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Oh, yes, said he, turning to me. We are very much obliged to you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to

cut your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric blue dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on, we should both be extremely obliged. The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rue Castle expressed a delight at the look of it, which seemed quite exaggerated

in its vehemence. They were waiting for me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room stretching along the entire front of the house, with three long windows reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was asked to sit, and then Mr. Rue Castle, walking up and down on the other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Rue Castle, however, who has evidently no sense of humor, never so much as smiled,

but sat with her hands in her lap and a sad, anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rue Castle suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in the nursery. Two days later this same performance was gone through under exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny stories of which my employer had an immense repertoire and which he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and moving my chair a little sideways, that my

own shadow might not fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and to change my dress. You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire to see what was going on behind my back. I became consumed with the desire to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of the glass in my handkerchief.

On the next occasion, in the midst of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able, with a little management, to see all that there was behind me. I confess that I was disappointed there was nothing. At least that was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the railings which bordered our field, and was looking earnestly up.

I lowered my handkerchief and glanced Mrs. Ruecastle to find her eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. Jephro, said she, there is an impertinent fellow upon the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter. Next time on Sherlock Holmes Short Stories, Miss Violet Hunter discovers an impossible clue that leads her closer to the truth. Behind a barred door in a forbidden wing of Copper Beach's, something stirs in the shadows.

And as darkness falls, a deadly trap is sprung in which the hunter becomes the hunted. Can't wait a week until the next episode? Well, listen to it right away by subscribing to Noiza Plus. Head to www.noiza.com slash subscriptions for more information or click the link in the episode description. No Frills delivers. Get groceries delivered to your door from No Frills with PC Express. Shop online and get $15 in PC Optimum Points on your first five orders. Shop now at NoFrails.ca