Summary: Mr. Hilton Cubitt of Ridling Thorpe Manor in Norfolk comes to Sherlock with the above drawing of little dancing men. The little dancing men are at the heart of a mystery which seems to be driving his young wife Elsie to distraction. The trouble began when Elsie received a letter from the United States, which evidently disturbed her, and she threw the letter on the fire. Then the dancing men appeared, sometimes on a piece of paper left on the sundial overnight, sometimes scrawled in chalk on a wall or door, even a windowsill. Each time, their appearance has an obvious, terrifying effect on Elsie, but she will not tell her husband what is going on.
