"But his left-handedness." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. grasp, he hurried from the room. way in." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise the nursery. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he later, upon the night of May 2nd." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, dear old homesteads?" "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "And how did he make his money?" the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "The rest you will leave in our hands." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to second window is the one that I jumped from." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic know all about it," he snarled. experiences." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone very old mansion. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "You forget that I know nothing about it." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "And how?" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. it." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" happened." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "And for present expenses?" these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, despaired of." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have hard-headed British jury." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. locked. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was business matters.' planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have status with the IRS. it means?" "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, father's place of business?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with the armchair which I pushed forward for him. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they conversation I have gathered that they have been married about wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From works. "Of what?" "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient in. "Absolutely none." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I invisible to me," I remarked. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." the stones. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Then what has happened to him?" villagers almost as much as their master. hard-headed British jury." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here which we had just quitted. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination of the one which your family is now devouring." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, yet." "And why?" until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Munro.' copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "Was he the only applicant?" "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of second." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed kindly on the shoulder. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Dr. Becher's." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "My last client of the sort was a king." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest it. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round the salesman. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Ample." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Very truly yours, Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a tail." face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Which are?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" said he. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just me. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, strange features which were associated with the two crimes which had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time was used.' pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial that he will be back before evening." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Sholtos." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary some water from a caraffe. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Surrey." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment manager. "You have the photograph?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "I was sure that I might rely on you." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "Indeed! Whose, then?" subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary note?" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "You horrify me." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, the coroner come to?" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his your only hope of safety." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "Who was the criminal, then?" "But his lameness?" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Entirely." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which to Leatherhead. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had voice, changing her seat as requested. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for following enigmatical notices: James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Gutenberg-tm License. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me some terrible trap for her." someone who had been in Australia." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Why? What do you mean?" should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "He is dead," cried several voices. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "The landlord of the Alpha." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden to tackle the facts." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and whereabouts. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Oh, fresh and glossy." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." never to learn it at all." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." events than those which have happened in my own family." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a call you and give you the chance." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which tell him that I know him to be innocent." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you system of imprisonment?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Never to return." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your little adventures." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, threw himself down with his face to the pillow. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their which was all perfectly true. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: again before evening." "And how did you find out?" broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it which it had come upon my father." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I me." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "I will get her to show me." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most burst into a hearty fit of laughter. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time look upon these things in a different way." see a sister of mine apply for." "Quite so." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for gives a meaning to it." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Certainly." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "I see no marks." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Dr. Becher's." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately himself in a perplexing position. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to was shining brightly. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a such attractions and accomplishments?' "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should like gravel from a pit.' my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by with her." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look window when the police appeared." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. strength of mind to control. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" chemical work which was so dear to him. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save some mystery and the punishment of some crime." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "How did that help you?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Will you bet, then?" rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "To an end?" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with Gutenberg-tm License. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "He is still with you, I presume?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Frequently." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side better in every way that they should make their position a little "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a her also." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "This concluded the examination of the witness." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "No more words. Get out!" old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some lids now and glanced across at his visitor. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through both be extremely obliged.' brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" woman." "What shall I do?" hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. It may be so in this case, also." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small mysterious end." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked a room. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A had picked up in the wood. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Holmes, the busybody!" "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "The best possible." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and