DEVILS FOOT

《惡魔之腳歷險記》是福爾摩斯的短篇小說之一。

"The Adventure of the Devil's Foot" was ranked ninth on Doyle's list of his top twelve Sherlock Holmes stories. One spring, Holmes and Dr. Watson visit Poldhu in Cornwall for the former's health, but the vacation is marred by a strange event. Mr. Mortimer Tregennis, a local gentleman, and Mr. Roundhay, the local vicar, arrive in Holmes to inform Holmes that Tregennis' two brothers have gone insane and his sister has died.

The vicar has not been to see them yet. Tregennis says that he remembers one brother looking through the window, and then he himself turned to see some "movement" outside. He declares that the horrific event is the work of the devil. Mortimer Tregennis was once estranged from his siblings by the matter of dividing the proceeds from the sale of the family business, but he insists that all was forgiven, although he still lives apart from them. The doctor who was summoned, reckoned that she had been dead for six hours. He also collapsed into a chair for a while after arriving.

Holmes goes to the house in question and, apparently carelessly, kicks over a watering pot, soaking everyone's feet. The housekeeper tells Holmes that she heard nothing in the night, and that the family had been particularly happy and prosperous lately. Holmes observes the remains of a fire in the fireplace. Tregennis explains that it was a cold, damp night.