Ravensdene Court

a fortnight earlier I had never heard of the place, but there was nothing remarkable in my ignorance of it, seeing

a fitting and an explanatory introduction to a series of adventures, so extraordinary, mysterious, and fraught with d

e Court, n

humb

ary 2

ar

m what I have seen of his collection up to now, I cannot say that he was a great exponent of the art of order, or a devotee of system, for an entire wing on this house is neither more nor less than a museum, into which books, papers, antiques, and similar things appear to have been dumped without regard to classification or arrangement. I am not a bookman, nor an antiquary; my life until recently has been spent in far different fashion, as a Financial Commissioner in India. I am, however, sincerely anxious that these new possessions of mine should be properly cared for, and I should like an expert to examine everything that is here, and to advise me as to proper arrangement and provision for the future. I should accordingly be greatly obliged to you if you could make it convenient to come here as my gu

, dea

rs t

cis R

Middlebro

dings, Lincoln

he task which he desired me to undertake. As I have said already, I left London on the 8th of March, journeying to Newcastle by the afternoon express from King's Cross. I spent that night at Newcastle and went forward next morning to Alnmouth, which according to a map with which I had provided myself, was the nearest station to Ravensdene Court. And soon after arriving at Alnmouth the first chapter of my adventures opened, and came about by sheer luck. It was a particularly fine, bright, sharply-bracing morning, and as I was under no particular obligation to present myself at Ravensdene Court at any fixed time, I determined to walk thither by way of t

ntering along at my leisure: Mr. Raven, in one of his letters, had mentioned seven as his dinner hour: therefore, I had the whole day before me. By noon the sun had grown warm, even summer-like; warm enough, at any rate, to warrant me in sitting down on a ledge of the cliffs while I smoked a pipe of tobacco and stare

neither a sail on the sea, nor a human habitation on the land; there was not even a sheep cropping the herbage of the headlands. I think there were birds

aged man, tidily dressed in a blue serge suit of nautical cut, the sort of thing that they sell, ready-made, in sea-ports and naval stations. His clothes went with his dark

l averse to entering into conversation,

ea and sky. Then he looked significantly at my knickerbockers and at a small satchel which I carried over

ese parts,"

've seen most of the world in my time, never sailed this here sea as lies before us. But I've a sort of connection with this bit of country-mother's side came from herea

ping in the neigh

own, hairy hands, and j

t is a churchyard, or it might be two, or it might be three, where there's gravestones what bears a name. Only I don't know where tha

ook the map with a word of thanks, and after spreading it

olks must be laid away somewhere. And in one of them graveyards there'll be a name, and if I see that name, I'll know where I am, and I can ask fu

he name?"

old. And seen it-in old books, what I have far away in Devonport. That's the name, right enough, onl

rve that there aren't many villages along the coast, so your search ought not to be a lengthy one. I should

. In some churchyards hereabouts. And there may be some of 'em left-and again

-fashioned bow. I rose from the ledge of rock on

But I should say you won't have much difficulty. There can't be many

me since my mother left these parts. But here I am-for the purpose, d'ye see, master. Time's no object-no

as a bit of a cottage or two, two or three boats drawn up on a strip of yellow sand, a crumbling smithie, and above these things, on a shelf of rock, a low-roofed, long-fronted inn

s of ale?" I asked. "I should s

nk, master. Used to that-I ain't used to ale.

s belly," I said with a laugh. "But e

stretch of country that had just opened before us. From the inn and its surroundings a winding track, a merely rough cartway, wound off

-meat and drink. I ate my breakfast before seven this morn

no doubt," said I. "Bu

above the inn door, to which we were now cl

st,'" he pronounced. "'Entertainment'-that means eating-meat for man; hay for

ip in a glass case on the mantelpiece, and a small bar, furnished with bottles and glasses, behind which stood a tall, middle-aged man, clean-shaven, spectacled, read

ou'll drink with m

ly at the landlord. "You ain't got such a thing as a plateful-a good plateful!-of cold beef, with a p

ed as he reached

ed. "Got a nice round of boiled beef on go-as it

as I'm not quite as hungry as our friend he

f his bar. And when he had expressed his wishes for my good health, Salter Quick t

"I reckon I'll put myself up here, while I'm looking round-this will do me very well. And doubtless there'll be t

ortable here," I assented. "It

ed, with a glance that suggested infinite meaning. "He has, so! But this ain't no de

ell-filled tray. And presently, first removing his cap and saying his grace in a devout fashion, he sat down and

I was surprised to see a licensed house

y. There's a village just behind here-it 'ud be hidden from you by this headland at back of the house-goodish-

d cheeks bulging with his

f a village, a church. And if a church, a ch

ere's a churchyard to it," repl

nodded

in 'em, you understand. And on them graves, a name. Name of Netherfield. Now I asks you, friendl

s scores o' them flat stones in it that's covered with long grass-there might be tha

dress, appeared to be a cattle-drover or a shepherd. Claigue tur

ed the name of Netherfield on any o' them old gravestones up yonder? This gentl

re was a man come up to me the other night, this side o' Lesbury,

ropped his knife and fork with a c