The yellow face

An upset man appears to Baker Street. 3 years ago, Jack Grant Munro married Effie, a young widow, and they lived an happy life together in the countryside, near Norbury.

Both have a comfortable income, the husband’s job leaves him time at home, and they love each other sincerely. But a few days before Mr Munro’s visit to Sherlock Holmes, his wife’s behavior has changed, and that could be linked to another event seemingly trivial: the closest house, unoccupied for some time, is now inhabited.

When he tried to see his new neighbours, Mr Munro could just distinguish a weird face at the windows: a yellow face with rigid and somehow unnatural features. He tried to contact them, but was brutally repressed by a rude woman.

Since that very day, Mrs Munro tried to make secret visits to the house. When confronted to her husband, she can't say a word. Confused and worried, the poor man doesn't know what to do. However, for once, Sherlock Holmes will not resolve the mystery!

It may not be an exceptional story. It is especially hard to believe that Munro's wife left America in her situation -no other woman would have, and no explanation is given about that, as if everything were normal.

But, as Watson points out as an introduction, Holmes seldom failed; here we have a case where he made a guess to quickly, based on very few facts, and missed the target. The truth is revealed nonetheless. The best part is probably in the last lines:

"Watson," said Holmes, "if it should ever strike you that I am getting a little over confident in my powers, or giving less pains to a case that it deserves, kindly whisper 'Norbury' in my ear, and I shall be infinitely obliged to you."