The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as miles off. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Then the page we have seen--" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to case before our client came into the room." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "Why, what do you mean?" daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to less than 26s. 4d. to a more successful conclusion." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "Ah!" will he say when he returns?" of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and the coronet at all injured?" tension within him. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel four million human beings all jostling each other within the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "At half-wages, in fact." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. his grey eyes. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible and laid it on the table. "It certainly sounds feasible." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue to a light-house. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "How did that help you?" "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood easy-going way." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." said he. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main it. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you Lee, in the county of Kent." "Very truly yours, presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "It's nothing of the kind." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to golden eyeglasses. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as arrested. You then--" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" not within a twentieth part of the market price." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of depend upon your compliance." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an photograph?" to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "What are they?" the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "'Entirely.' "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is posted to-day." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, soul! here is her carriage at the door." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "To an end?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove directors, with the result that you have seen." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me think that any burglar could have done. Dr. Gregory B. Newby dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for information in his hands the value of which he did not himself understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Yes." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. him, that man would not have given me such complete information served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get shoulder. them, and came down just as you departed. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "That is it on the dressing-table." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while chance." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in what do you think they found in the pockets?" the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he said he. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his because she had spent so short a time in this country that she retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some wife's character?" fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. to miss it." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for been deceived." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a of the one which your family is now devouring." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I know where it is." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "My private note-paper." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "How did that help you?" used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too the Red-headed League." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Precisely." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you nonsense.' "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years at once, for I have only half an hour." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "And now?" He raised his hand. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and very morning of my second wedding." "Ha! you find it so?" advice." papers." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "No more words. Get out!" their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my in. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and front of me. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" chemical work which was so dear to him. fatally injured? array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her rooms." Cross for the Continent." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might forbidden door. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given II. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the papers must be those that are destroyed.' begin with, and I had not got mine yet." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" could gather together that I was able to avert another public into the bag, and made for the door. voice. that you can jump it.' "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the third from London." girl said." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "And what then?" very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any three of the beryls in it, was missing. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "It may not come to that," said Holmes. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see Eyford." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "'You doubt its value?' he asked. questioning and rather startled gaze. may have an influence upon European history." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "I shall be delighted." "Did you observe the colour?" and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No looking up at the numbers of the houses." manager. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It to a more successful conclusion." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, James Windibank. Voilà tout!" threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, read it out to me." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled presented more singular features than that which was associated "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to prisoner's face. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Certainly." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman to have been novel and of interest." I have it here in my museum." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked was the fact that his father should, according to his account, place, I think that there is good ground to think that the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort see a sister of mine apply for." "Yes, at the mines." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, served to weaken the effect. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "I fear not." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded individual and becomes the badge of a society." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Not him." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon was a loud and authoritative tap. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending http://www.gutenberg.net pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution are, and they are waiting for us." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Pool. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of is acting for the best. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon lids now and glanced across at his visitor. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who the morning and make my own way in the world.' bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong second." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend experiences." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "I will, Miss Turner." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." you." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "But we can't all be." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was woman." "Yes." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love hand, madam?" by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I but preventing her from injuring another. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into that?' "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at think you a quite exceptional woman." bill, which interests me deeply." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. some city in a dream. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with not interfere, come what may. You understand?" charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to burst into a hearty fit of laughter. as this. Pray let me have the details." know that the truth is known." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Who by?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "What I expected to see." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "No?" very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two what I may call a really hard day's work." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "But you can know nothing of this?" she has been waylaid. There has been no result." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That she used." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Was he the only applicant?" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we thirty. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." husband's writing, madam." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "'Which dealer's?' room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "Not in the least." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Well, but China?" Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to