It took only a moment for Holmes to bring my attention back to the matter at hand. He directed me to examine the body, with the usual admonishment concerning 'his methods'. He wished me to make a medical determination as to cause of death and condition of the corpse, while he fell to work inspecting the library. I did a rapid, yet thorough, evaluation of the medical evidence and expected Holmes to still be crawling about the floor plucking fibres from the animal skins or determining the exact amount of ash at a particular spot, but I turned to find the detective and Gregson observing my every move.

"Now, Doctor, please tell us what fruit your efforts have borne."

"I remind you, I have only seen the skin normally exposed by the dressing gown and I ....."

"Just so", Holmes interrupted with a flourish of his hand. "Continue."

The clipped speech and commanding tone that so annoyed Inspectors and criminals alike would have been insulting if from other than Holmes. I, however, know his manners well and took little notice of this theatrical moment.

"I will begin with the most obvious detail. The death's head grimace that contorts young Fenwick's face was caused by remarkably strong tetanic convulsions. The rigidity of the back as well as the limbs attest to the violent nature of his seizure. The feet are turned in at the ankles and the hands at the wrists and the fingers, save for the thumb of the right hand, have drawn in. This, as well, points to a grand mal. The right hand has a dark bruise and puncture wound just below the palm. The discolouration suggests the wound was inflicted several hours prior to death for an unknown, but a certainly non-medical, purpose."

I looked to my friend for some indication of how my analysis matched his own. He gave no indication one way or the other. Gregson, on the other hand, smiled and nodded his agreement.

"The tounge is swollen and discoloured and the deceased has involuntarily soiled himself." I began to understand the mental liberation Holmes must experience from the absolute surrender to the intellect and the objective evaluation of facts.

"And'" I continued, "the deceased is jaundiced."

At this last statement, Holmes' head snapped forward and I noticed a thin smile . He quickly moved to the body and leaned in close to Fenwick's face.

"Good job, Watson. Good job," Holmes said in an even voice. High praise indeed.

"However, you failed to use all your senses. Did you not detect the slight odor of alcohol about the mouth and jaw?"

Gregson could restrain himself no longer. "This is all well and good, gentlemen. But are you saying Fenwick here died of natural causes."

"Not at all, Gregson. He succumbed to Strychnos Nux-vomica of the family Loganiaceae. Strychnine posioning. I wrote a modest but well received monograph on the subject . We would do well to note that strychnine in medicinal dosages is considered by some an aphrodisiac."

"If you allow me, I will enlighten a few of the dark corners of this most interesting case. It took only a few minutes to examine the room, because very little happened here. I draw your attention to the fire in the grate."

"There is no fire in the grate," pleaded Gregson.

"Exactly. Nor is there blood, despite the wound on Fenwick's wrist. He died elsewhere and the body was transported here."

"Holmes, what can we make of this peculiar puncture?"

"This is where our case takes a decided turn to darkest evil. Fenwick was tourtured for some unknown end; A nail was driven through his wrist at the spot of Destot, that point where criminals were nailed to a cruxifix, to hold him steady and helpless while his murderers sought to extract information or revenge."

"And what of the cryptic verse written in blood presumably in the dead man's hand."

Holmes paused and pressed his fingertips together in contemplation,"That verse,my friend, is as enigmatic a puzzle as we have faced. Any statement I make at thispoint is only wild conjecture and surmise. I feel......."

Suddenly............

Proceed to Part Four