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moment the matter was passed over。
It left； however； a terrible impression upon the nurse's mind； and
from that time she began to watch her mistress closely and to keep a
closer guard upon the baby； whom she tenderly loved。 It seemed to
her that even as she watched the mother； so the mother watched her；
and that every time she was compelled to leave the baby alone the
mother was waiting to get at it。 Day and night the nurse covered the
child； and day and night the silent； watchful mother seemed to be
lying in wait as a wolf waits for a lamb。 It must read most incredible
to you； and yet I beg you to take it seriously； for a child's life and
a man's sanity may depend upon it。
At last there came one dreadful day when the facts could no longer
be concealed from the husband。 The nurse's nerve had given way； she
could stand the strain no longer； and she made a clean breast of it
all to the man。 To him it seemed as wild a tale as it may now seem
to you。 He knew his wife to be a loving wife； and； save for the
assaults upon her stepson； a loving mother。 Why； then； should she
wound her own dear little baby？ He told the nurse that she was
dreaming； that her suspicions were those of a lunatic； and that such
libels upon her mistress were not to be tolerated。 While they were
talking a sudden cry of pain was heard。 Nurse and master rushed
together to the nursery。 Imagine his feelings； Mr。 Holmes； as he saw
his wife rise from a kneeling position beside the cot and saw blood
upon the child's exposed neck and upon the sheet。 With a cry of
horror； he turned his wife's face to the light and saw blood all round
her lips。 It was she… she beyond all question… who had drunk the
poor baby's blood。
So the matter stands。 She is now confined to her room。 There has
been no explanation。 The husband is half demented。 He knows； and I
know； little of vampirism beyond the name。 We had thought it was
some wild tale of foreign parts。 And yet here in the very heart of the
English Sussex… well； all this can be discussed with you in the
morning。 Will you see me？ Will you use your great powers in aiding a
distracted man？ If so； kindly wire to Ferguson； Cheeseman's；
Lamberley； and I will be at your rooms by ten o'clock。
Yours faithfully；
ROBERT FERGUSON。
P。 S。 I believe your friend Watson played Rugby for Blackheath
when I was three…quarter for Richmond。 It is the only personal
introduction which I can give。
〃Of course I remembered him；〃 said I as I laid down the letter。 〃Big
Bob Ferguson； the finest three…quarter Richmond ever had。 He was
always a good…natured chap。 It's like him to be so concerned over a
friend's case。〃
Holmes looked at me thoughtfully and shook his head。
〃I never get your limits； Watson；〃 said he。 〃There are unexplored
possibilities about you。 Take a wire down； like a good fellow。 'Will
examine your case with pleasure。'〃
〃Your case！〃
〃We must not let him think that this agency is a home for the
weak…minded。 Of course it is his case。 Send him that wire and let
the matter rest till morning。〃
Promptly at ten o'clock next morning Ferguson strode into our
room。 I had remembered him as a long； slab…sided man with loose
limbs and a fine turn of speed which had carried him round many an
opposing back。 There is surely nothing in life more painful than to
meet the wreck of a fine athlete whom one has known in his prime。 This
great frame had fallen in； his flaxen hair was scanty； and his
shoulders were bowed。 I fear that I roused corresponding emotions in
him。
〃Hullo； Watson；〃 said he； and his voice was still deep and hearty。
〃You don't look quite the man you did when I threw you over the
ropes into the crowd at the Old Deer Park。 I expect I have changed a
bit also。 But it's this last day or two that has aged me。 I see by
your telegram； Mr。 Holmes； that it is no use my pretending to be
anyone's deputy。〃
〃It is simpler to deal direct；〃 said Holmes。
〃Of course it is。 But you can imagine how difficult it is when you
are speaking of the one woman whom you are bound to protect and
help。 What can I do？ How am I to go to the police with such a story？
And yet the kiddies have got to be protected。 Is it madness； Mr。
Holmes？ Is it something in the blood？ Have you any similar case in
your experience？ For God's sake； give me some advice； for I am at my
wit's end。〃
〃Very naturally； Mr。 Ferguson。 Now sit here and pull yourself
together and give me a few clear answers。 I can assure you that I am
very far from being at my wit's and； and that I am confident we
shall find some solution。 First of all； tell me what steps you have
taken。 Is your wife still near the children？〃
〃We had a dreadful scene。 She is a most loving woman； Mr。 Holmes。 If
ever a woman loved a man with all her heart and soul； she loves me。
She was cut to the heart that I should have discovered this
horrible； this incredible； secret。 She would not even speak。 She
gave no answer to my reproaches； save to gaze at me with a sort of
wild； despairing look in her eyes。 Then she rushed to her room and
locked herself in。 Since then she has refused to see me。 She has a
maid who was with her before her marriage； Dolores by name… a friend
rather than a servant。 She takes her food to her。〃
〃Then the child is in no immediate danger？〃
〃Mrs。 Mason； the nurse； has sworn that she will not leave it night
or day。 I can absolutely trust her。 I am more uneasy about poor little
Jack； for； as I told you in my note； he has twice been assaulted by
her。〃
〃But never wounded？〃
〃No； she struck him savagely。 It is the more terrible as he is a
poor little inoffensive cripple。〃 Ferguson's gaunt features softened
as he spoke of his boy。 〃You would think that the dear lad's condition
would soften anyone's heart。 A fall in childhood and a twisted
spine； Mr。 Holmes。 But the dearest； most loving heart within。〃
Holmes had picked up the letter of yesterday and was reading it
over。 〃What other inmates are there in your house； Mr。 Ferguson？〃
〃Two servants who have not been long with us。 One stable…hand；
Michael； who sleeps in the house。 My wife； myself； my boy Jack；
baby； Dolores； and Mrs。 Mason。 That is all。〃
〃I gather that you did not know your wife well at the time of your
marriage？〃
〃I had only known her a few weeks。〃
〃How long had this maid Dolores been with her？〃
〃Some years。〃
〃Then your wife's character would really be better known by
Dolores than by you？〃
〃Yes； you may say so。〃
Holmes made a note。
〃I fancy；〃 said he； 〃that I may be of more use at Lamberley than
here。 It is eminently a case for personal investigation。 If the lady
remains in her room； our presence could not annoy or inconvenience
her。 Of course； we would stay at the inn。〃
Ferguson gave a gesture of relief。
〃It is what I hoped； Mr。 Holmes。 There is an excellent train at
two from Victoria if you could come。〃
〃Of course we could come。 There is a lull at present。 I can give you
my undivide