I turned to look at my old friend with, what must have been a look of utter incredulity.

"A jar of honey, Holmes?"
"Yes Watson. A jar of honey"

I stole a glance at our client and managed what I sincerly hoped was a reassuring smile.Fortunately, Captain Blount was over wraught with concern over his missing fiance to pay much attention to what I had said. I cleared my throat. Holmes continued to stare out at the passing countryside. His steele grey eyes intent upon some inner quarry that only he, at present could fathom. I began to recall that Holmes had once told me how country life, for all of its seemingly placid appearance and bucolity could conceal villany of the very first order.

" If you say so,Holmes"

" Ah! Here we are,my friend exclaimed . If I'm not very much mistaken, that is the village of Lesser Griffton that we are approaching,Watson!"

The conveyance rattled down the rut of a road and came to a thudding and back jarring stop in front of what must have been Lesser Griffton's only inn. A sun bleached cracked and very lopsided shingle proclaimed it to be "The Queen's Hive". Holmes jumped out and stood looking around eagerly. Captain Blount ,followed closly behind by myself climbed rather stiffly after him. Holmes, in the meanwhile had opened the door to the inn. The place was positively dim. The only light that managed to gain entry did so through two small and extremely grimy windows higher up in the wall above the bar itself.
The innkeeper, a rather thin man with gizzled hair looked up from his polishing of the bar as we made our entrance. Rather than being hospitable,which I dare say is what is to be expected from most innkeepers, this man regarded our appearance with unvailed and unwarrented suspicion.
" Get you gentlemen somthing?"