This is the 4th weekly letter providing clues to help build a theory of the case; the final letter will bring Holmes's solution.
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(Note: the photo of the letter is followed by its text.)
You know my methods, Watson.
Sherlock Holmes
MARCH LETTER NO. 4
Text of the letter from Dr. John Watson to Sherlock Holmes
Madeleine Dalton
Secretary
Leopold Kimber
Advocate and Solicitor
Oxfordshire
John Watson, M.D.
Islip, 8 July 1887
Dear Holmes,
I am grateful that your letter arrived so speedily. Had it not, I would have been unable to visit Islip for at least another week. I spent a fair portion of my day making the acquaintance of the Stuckland household and Islip's local jewellers. I was able to make all enquiries requested, and hope that you might gather sufficient evidence to form a hypothesis upon reading this letter.
Having been met at the door by the estate's caretaker, James Ward, I used the story you devised, that I was in the vicinity on medical business and had heard of the Strucklands' famous geological collections. He informed me that the Strucklands were preoccupied with work and would unfortunately be unavailable to meet. However, when I mentioned a particular interest in coprolites, and the fact that I was a tireless fan of the late Strucklands, Mr. Ward relented and asked me to wait outside while he alerted Miss Struckland. (But really, Holmes, fossilised dinosaur dung? How you even knew to call it a 'coprolite' is beyond me...)
Within several moments, the younger Struckland sisters, Amber and Amethyst, opened the door and invited me in. Their older sister, Beryl, promptly arrived to the front parlor and introductions were made. the eldest Struckland explained that they had just begun working on some specimens, but she seemed otherwise content to discuss the family's endeavours. Lost in jargon, I admitted that I was but an aspiring hobbyist 'with a budding interest in fossils especially', and that I was accordingly a follower of their father's groundbreaking discoveries.
At that point, Amethyst asked if I might be interested in viewing select specimens on display around the property, to which Beryl hesitantly agreed. Beryl led me around the parlour, pointing out some of their mother's illustrations and commenting on their sister Amber's similar talent. They led me through to the ballroom with Amber and Mr. Ward following closely behind.
Following the two sisters toward the library, I noted crates of varying sizes lined up alongside the ballroom's walls, and numerous documents carefully stacked upon a table near the fireplace. Three illustrations, one each of raw amethyst, amber, and beryllite, were famed together in a large centerpiece above the fireplace. Each illustration within the framed piece was accompanied by a small sample of its respective mineral.
Presently, the sisters are confident that they have classified roughly seventy percent of the collection, at least. While they still have considerable amounts to sort through, several parties have expressed interest in exhibiting portions of the collection. Namely, Oxford, which the sisters attribute both to their parents' history with the institution, and 'Amethyst's friend', Mr. Roger Rathmore. Beryl has already begun arrangements for several fossils to be delivered to Oxford once the catalogue is completed, hopefully in time for the inauguration of their coming 'School of Geology'. Mr. Rathmore, who Amethyst met earlier this year, has been functioning as a a sort of liaison between the university's current administration and the sisters. He once travelled with their parents, as Mr. Ward did, and will be delivering lectures once the new department is established.
I enquired about how they are able to move about all the unwieldy pieces, especially considering their large property. When Amethyst and Beryl mentioned that Mr. Ward assists with much of the heavy lifting, I expressed concern for his health, and offered to check his heart. they were appreciative, and MR. Ward conceded after a moment of bashfulness, even joking to them, 'it's Roger with the aging heart!'
We retreated to Mr. Ward's quarters, which allowed me the opportunity to speak with him in private as you requested. When I asked if he enjoyed his work with the sisters, he wholeheartedly agreed, recounting his history as a member of the Strucklands' field expeditions. Mr. Ward mentioned that he and the Strucklands had made great efforts to catalogue the collection, though 'the girls have been squabbling as of late'. Interestingly, he seemed wary of the motives of Amethyst's gentleman friend, Mr. Rathmore.
Mr. Ward does not seem to trust him at all. Although he stated that he was happy for Amethyst, he referenced Mr. Rathmore's past reputation as a 'Casanova". Feigning ignorance, I merely responded that I had assumed the two would be close friends, given their pursuits wit the Strucklands. He mumbled, 'In spite of Roger's agreeable personality, he has always been a rather flighty one.'
Per your request, I also observed Mr. Ward's quarters while we were talking. His room is far down the corridor from the ball room, next to the Strucklands' guest chamber. The sisters' chambers are situated in a hall leading out of the ballroom's opposite end. Mr. Ward's has a modest desk, and teh usual items one would expect. I was quiter fortunate in that during our conversation, he was called away for several minues to assist Beryl. While I waited, I observed that a box beside his desk was filled with tattered journals, most marked 'W.S.'
Atop his desk was a mess of papers, mostly blank, one of which I realised had been torn from a notebook; that one had distinct writing on its other side. I was able to turn it over and read through its contents hastily before the sound of Mr. Ward's footsteps alerted me to stop. The writing concerned an anniversary gift the girls' mother, Mary, had received from their father. Mr. Rathmore, their apprentice at the time, seems to have assisted in secretly preparing the gift.
Upon returning to his chamber, Mr. Ward informed me that Mr. Rathmore himself had unexpectedly arrived, and was with the sisters in the library. I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to meet Mr. Rathmore and asked Mr. Wad if he would show me back to the library. He kindly obliged, guiding me to the sisters' working area before returning to his own chamber.
Amethyst sprung up to introduce Mr. Rathmore, however the man barely greeted me before excusing himself, whispering something to Amethyst, and exiting the room. Hoping to learn more of the sisters and their collection, I asked them if they had any other pieces on display around the house. Amethyst asked Beryl if I had seen the guest chamber, to which we both replied 'No'. They subsequently led me to the chamber, which hosts not only several illustrations, but also a number of 'adorable' coprolites. Amber excused herself and remained in the library.
The guest room seemed normal enough. Amethyst pointed out that one of the illustrations, their mother's depiction of a jawbone 'belonging to some ancient creature', was their father's favourite. But as Beryl spoke of another piece, a noise caught the three of us by surprise: what seemed like angry voices, echoing through the walls. Beryl explained that it was merely the house's older speaking tubes, one of which we could see entering the chamber's far left wall. Amethyst remarked that the voice sounded similar to Mr. Rathmore's own and it quickly became apparent that we were overhearing a rather lively discourse between he and he sisters' groundskeeper. The only words I could truly make out were various instances of 'the collection', and a particularly loud 'There is more', from whom I believe was Mr. Rathmore.
The door to Mr. Ward's chamber swung open in the following seconds and Mr. Rathmore charge out of the property. Amethyst immediately excused herself, telling us that she should see off Mr. Rathmore. After a pause, Beryl asked me to return at another time if I wished to view more of the collection, saying she 'should ask James about all this'. By the time Miss Struckland was leading me out, Amber was in the hall, searching out the cause of the disturbance. Beryl apologised and said goodbye to me then, asking her sister to see me out and turning to Mr. Ward's chamber.
As we exited through the ballroom, I confided to Amber that I was actually visiting on behalf of Mr. Kimber. She seemed relieved by my revelation, but before saying much else, we were interrupted by a displeased Amethyst re-entering the front parlour and Beryl beckoning her sisters. I thanked her for their hospitality and made my way from their property to the local market before sundown.
As Mr.Kimber's note detailed, there are a few local purveyors who deal with jewellery and othr such valuable goods. The jewellers that Mr. Kimber managed to interview, Wilfrid Cooper and Isaac White, both know of the Strucklands, but neither seems to have engaged with them personally. Likewise, their interest seem to lie mostly within the realm of gold chains and other traditional sorts of jewellery. When I mentioned my 'interest in peculiarities', Mr. White did show me to a special chamber, but it mostly contained antiquated porcelain figures. Mr. Coooper, to my surprise, suggested that I visit Sidney Turner.
Mr. Turner had apparently returned from business travels just the night before, and was thrilled when I explained my supposed interest in fossils and other such rarities. He welcomed me into his shop, a rather narrow locale, and apologised for the disorder. A number of masks and archaic weapons decorated the back wall, but the shop was emptier than I had imagined. Most everything was hidden beneath several layers of dust. The man explained how, as a travelling vendor, he appreciates the Islip market's closeness to the rail station. He occasionally sells things out of his storefront here, but most often finds himself appraising valuables in the area and delivering them to well-heeled clients as far as London. I then lied that I was actually visiting Islip, in part, to see an acquaintance of mine, Roger Rathmore. I told him that I had heard of the Strucklands' impressive findings and, that thanks to my connection to Mr. Rathmore, I was given the chance to meet the Struckland sisters during my visit.
'Mr. Rathmore was here this morning,' replied Mr. Turner in surprise. 'The Strucklands do have a number of extraordinarily unique pieces in their possession. You were fortunate to meet them.' The salesman then asked if I was in search of anything in particular. I answered with your suggestion of fossils, but also requested to see any scientific ilustrations he might have had on hand. Mr. Turner disappointedly informed me that he only very seldomly receives the opportunity to deal with fossils more substantial that a common coprolite; and even when he comes accross such pieces, they tend to go within days.
He rarely encounters illustrations either, but recommended I ask the Struckland sisters about purchasing from their own collection. Mr. Turner said that 'their groundskeeper James has come in several times these months, requesting my appraisal of certain pieces for which his employers had received offers.' He said I would do well to visit the Strucklands again before departing Islip if I hoped to succeed in my current pursuit. I thanked him kindly for humouring my enquiries, and returned to write this letter from Mr. Kimber's office.
Of course, I have relayed to Mr. Kimber the same information contained above. He awaits further recommendations from yourself, Holmes, but I must depart for a patient near Tetsworth once I seal this within an envelope. I trust this weill be enough to help for the time being.
Faithfully,
John H. Watson, M.D.
John H. Watson, M.D.
Lucius Beebe Memorial Library 345 Main Street Wakefield, Massachusetts 01880 781-246-6334wakefieldlibrary.org