The lights burned brightly in Merripit House and the curtains of the dining room were open. We saw Sir Henry talking to Stapleton.
‘Where is Miss Stapleton?’ I said to Holmes. ‘Sir Henry has come to see her, not her brother.’
‘Perhaps Stapleton wants to talk to Sir Henry alone,’ Holmes said. ‘But, look – the mist is rising. Soon we will not be able to see.’
I looked around. Thick white mist was rising from the Great Grimpen Mire.