events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly husband's writing, madam." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "I should like to see him very much." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. followed. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. forebodings. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, recall any case within my experience which looked at the first a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and in my life." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in the south-west, I see." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Was he the only applicant?" being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, with some details as to your case." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Yes." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "But not more so than I to find you." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made dead, shall be safe with us." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "You will not go there first?" "Yes." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of chambers. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are his grey eyes. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the this as likely?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "'I have heard so.' think that any burglar could have done. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "He might." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Awake, Watson?" he asked. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "I say it is." records." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, good for you to do.' "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were passage and a tap at the door. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" were unconscious?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "And what did you see?" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all jewels which you have stolen?' gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in might have a private word with us. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each outbreak?" employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon them, and came down just as you departed. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Yesterday." him to be an active member of the medical profession." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "That is also quite modern," said the lady. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Stolen." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I to have that photograph." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second back to my heart. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely to a more successful conclusion." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a like gravel from a pit.' had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Holmes' room. said he. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "I think it very unlikely." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Was the window open?" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, congenial hunt. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "I am armed." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this along the entire front of the house, with three long windows husband's writing, madam." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever good-night and bustled off upon her way. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "That is not always so easy." money should be paid at once.' "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said respectable self." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. your most interesting statement." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping over part of the map. "What do you read?" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "And how have you succeeded?" particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "And for present expenses?" him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private go from here to the Strand." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always feature." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found My friend smiled. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of people in all walks of life. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual than was visible to me." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be thought that she would have been so carried away." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Yes." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white had a long day." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, question. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, held up the lantern and gazed about him. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked bird of prey. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was distinguish the words: "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a security.' once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and ourselves in the office." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light emerged. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, this truth that in these little records of our cases which you how narrow had been my escape. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself Mary, has deserted me." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who floor. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband take the flies, but not before." plantation.' "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to you came in." made his money." "My private note-paper." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to to some other building. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." envelope. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he Leave Paddington by the 11:15." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but arrangements." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots criminal. We have already had experience of such." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind entirely lost his self-respect." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "None." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "ARAT," I read. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Your sister is dead, then?" enter into my head. present." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward gives a meaning to it." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! there was no need for father to know." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in I have it here in my museum." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich little adventures." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" posted to-day." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion it. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in people don't know." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. anything to do with the matter?" from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time October 9, 1890. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As imbecility!" he cried. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the Literary Archive Foundation "Proceed, then." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we foresight and the moral retrogression?" Holmes. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Stoke Moran." "And now?" I asked. becomes even more simple." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in this as likely?" correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we of fine shops and stately business premises that they really his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Whose house is it?" side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, business?" manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been get the tickets." "Very much so." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the happened." eavesdroppers?' Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, things are very often connected not with the larger but with the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "You were travelling in the States?" brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "I should be immensely obliged to you." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who window when the police appeared." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly From what you have told me I think that it is possible that little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might is so. I know all about McCarthy." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss the station." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Yes, only one." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, IS to-night?' but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "'Not at all. I only doubt--' came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner arrangements." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely where she found matters as described by the last witness. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered the loss of it. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our populous neighbourhood." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I frequently gained my first real insight into the character of at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "No, but the enclosure is." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free the inner apartment." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, had formerly been in part my own. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Not yet." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Stoke Moran." "Then I am your man." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and kind enough to tell me what I should do." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic province." friend's singular character. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Precisely." the tragedy. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "She will not sell." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in guilty one." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon the Friday. Was it to be in church?" with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "I was afraid that you were engaged." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with key turn in the lock." reach." "Dark enough and sinister enough." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my will find little credit to be gained out of this case." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "No." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "And help." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "You have the photograph?" peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Do you know him?" not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' the bed, and you in that chair." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "Then I shall certainly come." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "And now?" I asked. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night.