showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." fasten all the windows?" he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious useful material for showing traces. The double line a little the night.' "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began him." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. hand, madam?" "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And have one." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "It must be recovered." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, where we are going." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out purpose equally well?" with you?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "You think that he is dead?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, closely." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "This photograph!" the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. where she found matters as described by the last witness. business matters.' trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "What! You do not mean bodies?" so far?" fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I client, rising. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before telegram would bring me down to your help." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and province." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, yourselves in at night?" on re-entering her father's house?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "It is a murder, then?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned of them has the shutters up.' had formerly been in part my own. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "What! Had he lost his wife?" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his tell them apart.' address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, towards the blaze. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "'Never,' said I. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were brought there to personate someone, and the real person is double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "None." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove any." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR test if we have an answer to our advertisement." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Now, then, what's the last entry?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you once more on the important position which you have been fortunate If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project things are very often connected not with the larger but with the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you cigar and let me expound." "But I have heard all that you have heard." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had the King without delay." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards country, and eventually married, without anyone having a before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so wedding?" then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. it." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask opportunities to fix the problem. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "No sign of it?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray in a very precise fashion." "Always." "This concluded the examination of the witness." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "I came to find a friend." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "I will, Miss Turner." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "You have it, sir, just as it happened." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "'Yes.' to change my dress. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "I have come for advice." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." chamber." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. that strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, you found me to-night--and running through the front room she the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four of the vacancies.' "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how said I. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "In the cells." "And help." outside. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up not fit the lock." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled obstinate." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a three of the beryls in it, was missing. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." sufficient punishment." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window at a side door. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it this Miss Turner." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "In the cells." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to throat." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my past. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Which surely he restored to their owner?" outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what think you a quite exceptional woman." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, there has been an enclosure here!" which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "The gentleman I describe." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the him, that man would not have given me such complete information imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. ourselves in the office." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "'What do you call purely nominal?' was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few the devil!" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking tail." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you all-comprehensive glances. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from infinite languor in his face. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of do." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and writing, and yet I know it well." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At lectures into a series of tales." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my married her." where we are going." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Yes, but only for you and me." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." it." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. front of me. habit of advancing money.' Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a just ask you whether you had heard it.' "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely so far?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "I was certainly surprised to find you there." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I bell. Holmes whistled. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "None." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "No, but the enclosure is." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "The best possible." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so later, upon the night of May 2nd." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Leadenhall Street--and--" "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Why serious?" most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at to take care of herself." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an round with crates and massive boxes. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made companion imperturbably. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this held up the lantern and gazed about him. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's and capable of preserving a secret.' hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, nothing of it?" "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "A client, then?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past standing smiling on the door-step. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other fear." and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "You have but to name it." occurred." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method in darkness. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and putting in the horse. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business redistribution. wanted for ourselves." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was was not a bird to be seen there. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or until night should bring an explanation. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united success. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. any little problem which you may submit to me." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. writing, and yet I know it well." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as present strange and interesting features that it is no easy III. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed you, my dear young lady?' 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A His smile broadened. not as remarkable as your advertisement." "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "It is very kind of you." thin legs towards the fire. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. fatally injured? but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these I took the paper from him and read as follows: opportunities to fix the problem. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread question," said Holmes, smiling. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my for the market.' greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Your French gold?" precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court of your young ladies.' Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "'What do you call purely nominal?' 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Eh? What was that?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H strength of mind to control. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the correct than the official force." "I guessed as much." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much about here speaks of his kindness to him." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Yes, certainly." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the