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this。 They are fresh； too。 They have been cut off with a blunt
instrument； which would hardly happen if a student had done it。 Again；
carbolic or rectified spirits would be the preservatives which would
suggest themselves to the medical mind； certainly not rough salt。 I repeat
that there is no practical joke here； but that we are investigating a serious
crime。〃
A vague thrill ran through me as I listened to my companion's words
and saw the stern gravity which had hardened his features。 This brutal
preliminary seemed to shadow forth some strange and inexplicable horror
in the background。 Lestrade； however； shook his head like a man who is
only half convinced。
〃There are objections to the joke theory； no doubt；〃 said he； 〃but there
are much stronger reasons against the other。 We know that this woman
has led a most quiet and respectable life at Penge and here for the last
twenty years。 She has hardly been away from her home for a day during
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The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
that time。 Why on earth； then； should any criminal send her the proofs of
his guilt； especially as； unless she is a most consummate actress； she
understands quite as little of the matter as we do？〃
〃That is the problem which we have to solve；〃 Holmes answered； 〃and
for my part I shall set about it by presuming that my reasoning is correct；
and that a double murder has been committed。 One of these ears is a
woman's； small； finely formed； and pierced for an earring。 The other is a
man's； sun…burned； discoloured； and also pierced for an earring。 These
two people are presumably dead； or we should have heard their story
before now。 To…day is Friday。 The packet was posted on Thursday
morning。 The tragedy； then； occurred on Wednesday or Tuesday； or
earlier。 If the two people were murdered； who but their murderer would
have sent this sign of his work to Miss Cushing？ We may take it that the
sender of the packet is the man whom we want。 But he must have some
strong reason for sending Miss Cushing this packet。 What reason then？
It must have been to tell her that the deed was done！ or to pain her；
perhaps。 But in that case she knows who it is。 Does she know？ I
doubt it。 If she knew； why should she cal the police in？ She might have
buried the ears； and no one would have been the wiser。 That is what she
would have done if she had wished to shield the criminal。 But if she does
not wish to shield him she would give his name。 There is a tangle here
which needs straightening to。〃 He had been talking in a high； quick
voice； staring blankly up over the garden fence； but now he sprang briskly
to his feet and walked towards the house。
〃I have a few questions to ask Miss Cushing；〃 said he。
〃In that case I may leave you here；〃 said Lestrade； 〃for I have another
small business on hand。 I think that I have nothing further to learn form
Miss Cushing。 You will find me at the police…station。〃
〃We shall look in on our way to the train；〃 answered Holmes。 A
moment later he and I were back in the front room； where the impassive
lady was still quietly working away at her antimacassar。 She put it down
on her lap as we entered and looked at us with her frank； searching blue
eyes。
〃I am convinced； sir；〃 she said； 〃that this matter is a mistake； and that
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The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
the parcel was never meant for me at all。 I have said this several times to
the gentlemen from Scotland Yard； but he simply laughs at me。 I have
not an enemy in the world； as far as I know； so why should anyone play
me such a trick？〃
〃I am coming to be of the same opinion； Miss Cushing；〃 said Holmes；
taking a seat beside her。 〃I think that it is more than probable〃 He
paused； and I was surprised； on glancing round to see that he was staring
with singular intentness at the lady's profile。 Surprise and satisfaction
were both for an instant to be read upon his eager face； though when she
glanced round to find out the cause of his silence he had become as
demure as ever。 I stared hard myself at her flat； grizzled hair； her trim
cap； her little gilt earrings； her placid features； but I could see nothing
which could account for my companion's evident excitement。
〃There were one or two questions〃
〃Oh； I am weary of questions！〃 cried Miss Cushing impatiently。
〃You have two sisters； I believe。〃
〃How could you know that？〃
〃I observed the very instant that I entered the room that you have a
portrait group of three ladies upon the mantelpiece； one of whom is
undoubtedly yourself； while the others are so exceedingly like you that
there could be no doubt of the relationship。〃
〃Yes； you are quite right。 Those are my sisters； Sarah and Mary。〃
〃And here at my elbow is another portrait； taken at Liverpool； of your
younger sister； in the company of a man who appears to be a steward by
his uniform。 I observe that she was unmarried at the time。〃
〃You are very quick at observing。〃
〃That is my trade。〃
〃Well； you are quite right。 But she was married to Mr。 Browner a few
days afterwards。 He was on the South American line when that was
taken； but he was so fond of her that he couldn't abide to leave her for so
long； and he got into the Liverpool and London boats。〃
〃Ah； the Conqueror； perhaps？〃
〃No； the May Day； when last I heard。 Jim came down here to see me
once。 That was before he broke the pledge； but afterwards he would
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The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
always take drink when he was ashore； and a little drink would send him
stark； staring mad。 Ah！ it was a bad day that ever he took a glass in his
hand again。 First he dropped me； then he quarrelled with Sarah； and now
that Mary has stopped writing we don't know how things are going with
them。〃
It was evident that Miss Cushing had come upon a subject on which
she felt very deeply。 Like most people who lead a lonely life； she was
shy at first； but ended by becoming extremely communicative。 She told
us many details about her brother…in…law the steward； and then wandering
off on the subject of her former lodgers； the medical students； she gave us
a long account of their delinquencies； with their names and those of their
hospitals。 Holmes listened attentively to everything； throwing in a
question from time to time。
〃About your second sister； Sarah；〃 said he。 〃I wonder； since you are
both maiden ladies； that you do not keep house together。〃
〃Ah！ you don't know Sarah's temper or you would wonder no more。 I
tried it when I came to Croydon； and we kept on until about two months
ago； when we had to part。 I don't want to say a word against my own
sister； but she was always meddlesome and hard to please； was Sarah。〃
〃You say that she quarrelled with your Liverpool relations。〃
〃Yes； and they were the best of friends at one time。 Why； she went
up there to live in order to be near them。 And now she has no word hard
enough for Jim Browner。 The last six months that she was here she
would speak of nothing but his drinking and his ways。 He had caught her
meddling； I suspect； and given her a bit of his mind； and that was the start
of it。〃
〃Thank you； Miss Cushing；〃 said Holmes； rising and bowing。 〃Your
sister Sarah lives； I think you said； at New Street； Wallington？ Good…bye；
and I am very sorry that you should have been troubled over a case with
which； as you say； you have nothing whatever to do。〃
There was a cab passing as we came out； and Holmes hailed it。
〃How far to