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〃'How do you come to know it？' I asked in surprise。
〃'When my old tutor used to give me an exercise in trigonometry；
it always took the shape of measuring heights。 When I was a lad I
worked out every tree and building in the estate。'
〃This was an unexpected piece of luck。 My data were coming more
quickly than I could have reasonably hoped。
〃'Tell me；' I asked； 'did your butler ever ask you such a question？'
〃Reginald Musgrave looked at me in astonishment。 'Now that you
call it to my mind；' he answered； 'Brunton did ask me about the height
of the tree some months ago in connection with some little argument
with the groom。'
〃This was excellent news； Watson； for it showed me that I was on the
right road。 I looked up at the sun。 It was low in the heavens； and I
calculated that in less than an hour it would lie just above the
topmost branches of the old oak。 One condition mentioned in the Ritual
would then be fulfilled。 And the shadow of the elm must mean the
farther end of the shadow； otherwise the trunk would have been
chosen as the guide。 I had； then； to find where the far end of the
shadow would fall when the sun was just clear of the oak。〃
〃That must have been difficult； Holmes； when the elm was no longer
there。〃
〃Well； at least I knew that if Brunton could do it； I could also。
Besides； there was no real difficulty。 I went with Musgrave to his
study and whittled myself this peg； to which I tied this long string
with a knot at each yard。 Then I took two lengths of a fishing…rod；
which came to just six feet； and I went back with my client to where
the elm had been。 The sun was just grazing the top of the oak。 I
fastened the rod on end； marked out the direction of the shadow； and
measured it。 It was nine feet in length。
〃Of course the calculation now was a simple one。 If a rod of six
feet threw a shadow of nine； a tree of sixty…four feet would throw one
of ninety…six； and the line of the one would of course be the line
of the other。 I measured out the distance； which brought me almost
to the wall of the house； and I thrust a peg into the spot。 You can
imagine my exultation； Watson； when within two inches of my peg I
saw a conical depression in the ground。 I knew that it was the mark
made by Brunton in his measurements； and that I was still upon his
trail。
〃From this starting…point I proceeded to step； having first taken
the cardinal points by my pocket…compass。 Ten steps with each foot
took me along parallel with the wall of the house； and again I
marked my spot with a peg。 Then I carefully paced off five to the east
and two to the south。 It brought me to the very threshold of the old
door。 Two steps to the west meant now that I was to go two paces
down the stone…flagged passage； and this was the place indicated by
the Ritual。
〃Never have I felt such a cold chill of disappointment； Watson。
For a moment it seemed to me that there must be some radical mistake
in my calculations。 The setting sun shone full upon the passage floor；
and I could see that the old； foot…worn gray stones with which it
was paved were firmly cemented together； and had certainly not been
moved for many a long year。 Brunton had not been at work here。 I
tapped upon the floor； but it sounded the same all over； and there was
no sign of any crack or crevice。 But fortunately； Musgrave； who had
begun to appreciate the meaning of my proceedings； and who was now
as excited as myself； took out his manuscript to check my
calculations。
〃'And under；' he cried。 'You have omitted the and under。'
〃I had thought that it meant that we were to dig； but now； of
course； I saw at once that I was wrong。 'There is a cedar under this
then？' I cried。
〃'Yes； and as old as the house。 Down here； through this door。'
〃We went down a winding stone stair； and my companion； striking a
match； lit a large lantern which stood on a barrel in the corner。 In
an instant it was obvious that we had at last come upon the true
place； and that we had not been the only people to visit the spot
recently。
〃It had been used for the storage of wood； but the billets； which
had evidently been littered over the floor； were now piled at the
sides； so as to leave a clear space in the middle。 In this space lay a
large and heavy flagstone with a rusted iron ring in the centre to
which a thick shepherd's…check muffler was attached。
〃'By Jove！' cried my client。 'That's Brunton's muffler。 I have
seen it on him and could swear to it。 What has the villain been
doing here？'
〃At my suggestion a couple of the county police were summoned to
be present； and I then endeavoured to raise the stone by pulling on
the cravat。 I could only move it slightly； and it was with the aid
of one of the constables that I succeeded at last in carrying it to
one side。 A black hole yawned beneath into which we all peered；
while Musgrave； kneeling at the side； pushed down the lantern。
〃A small chamber about seven feet deep and four feet square lay open
to us。 At one side of this was a squat； brass…bound wooden box； the
lid of which was hinged upward； with this curious old…fashioned key
projecting from the lock。 It was furred outside by a thick layer of
dust； and damp and worms had eaten through the wood； so that a crop of
livid fungi was growing on the inside of it。 Several discs of metal；
old coins apparently； such as I hold here； were scattered over the
bottom of the box； but it contained nothing else。
〃At the moment； however； we had no thought for the old chest； for
our eyes were riveted upon that which crouched beside it。 It was the
figure of a man； clad in a suit of black； who squatted down upon his
hams with his forehead sunk upon the edge of the box and his two
arms thrown out on each side of it。 The attitude had drawn all the
stagnant blood to the face； and no man could have recognized that
distorted liver…coloured countenance； but his height； his dress； and
his hair were all sufficient to show my client； when we had drawn
the body up； that it was indeed his missing butler。 He had been dead
some days； but there was no wound or bruise upon his person to show
how he had met his dreadful end。 When his body had been carried from
the cellar we found ourselves still confronted with a problem which
was almost as formidable as that with which we had started。
〃I confess that so far； Watson； I had been disappointed in my
investigation。 I had reckoned upon solving the matter when once I
had found the place referred to in the Ritual； but now I was there；
and was apparently as far as ever from knowing what it was which the
family had concealed with such elaborate precautions。 It is true
that I had thrown a light upon the fate of Brunton； but now I had to
ascertain how that fate had come upon him； and what part had been
played in the matter by the woman who had disappeared。 I sat down upon
a keg in the corner and thought the whole matter carefully over。
〃You know my methods in such cases； Watson。 I put myself in the
man's place； and； having first gauged his intelligence； I try to
imagine how I should myself have proceeded under the same
circumstances。 In this case the matter was simplified by Brunton's
intelligence being quite first…rate； so that it was unnecessary to
make any allowance for the personal equation； as the astronomers
have dubbed it。 He knew that something valuable was concealed。 He
had spotted the place。 He found that the stone which covered it was
just too heavy for a man to move unaided。 What would he do next？ He
could not get help from outside； even if he had someone whom he
could trust； without the unbarring of doors and considerable risk of
detection。 It was better； if he could； to have his helpmate inside the
house。 But whom could he ask？ This girl had been devoted to him。 A man
always finds it hard to realize that he may have finally lost a
woman's love； however badly he may have treated her。 He would try by a
few attentions to make his peace with the girl Howells； and then would
engage her as his accomplice。 Together they would come at night to the
cellar； and their united force would suffice to raise the stone。 So
far I could follow their actions as if I had actually seen them。
〃But for two of them； and one a woman； it must have been heavy work；
the raising of that stone。 A burly Sussex policeman and I had found it
no light job。 What would they do to assist them？ Probably what I
should have done myself。 I rose and examined carefully the different
billets of wood which were scattered round the floor。 Almost at once I
came upon what I expected。 One piece； about three feet in length；
had a very marked indentation at one end； while several were flattened
at the sides as if they had been compressed by some considerable
weight。 Evidently； as they had dragged the stone up； they had thrust
the chunks of wood into the chink until at last when the opening was
large enough to crawl through； they would hold it open by a billet
placed lengthwise； which might very well become indented at the
lower end； since the whole weight of t