Holmes is excited when Inspector Hopkins requests his attendance over the death of Sir Eustace Brackenstall. He was found dead in his country house after being hit on the head by a poker.
His battered wife tells Holmes that the house was broken into by three robbers who attacked them, they left with some stolen silver.
Something about her story does not add up and it concerns Holmes. He wonders why the robbers left her alive when she could have identified them.
Holmes regards Sir Eustace has a hot tempered drunk who married a younger wife who has joined him from Australia. Holmes and Watson are looking for another man who is of interest to them.
There is an amusing scene after Holmes has castigated Watson for his writing style. They meet Mr Viviani the managing director of the London office of a shipping line. He is a diligent reader of Watson's writings and he puts into practice what he has learned of Holmes methods which leads to them getting an important lead.
In many ways this is a standard Holmes mystery, yet Holmes is intrigued by the description of Captain Croker by Mr Vivavni. It does lead to a different outcome.
His battered wife tells Holmes that the house was broken into by three robbers who attacked them, they left with some stolen silver.
Something about her story does not add up and it concerns Holmes. He wonders why the robbers left her alive when she could have identified them.
Holmes regards Sir Eustace has a hot tempered drunk who married a younger wife who has joined him from Australia. Holmes and Watson are looking for another man who is of interest to them.
There is an amusing scene after Holmes has castigated Watson for his writing style. They meet Mr Viviani the managing director of the London office of a shipping line. He is a diligent reader of Watson's writings and he puts into practice what he has learned of Holmes methods which leads to them getting an important lead.
In many ways this is a standard Holmes mystery, yet Holmes is intrigued by the description of Captain Croker by Mr Vivavni. It does lead to a different outcome.