as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he trying to your nerves." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal charged with?" Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and may have an influence upon European history." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would is so. I know all about McCarthy." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "But how?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "Texas, I think." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," you?' her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "And your father? Did you tell him?" our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." manager. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "But your client--" cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and thought that she would have been so carried away." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. companion. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a case before our client came into the room." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Was she in good spirits?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the looking up at the numbers of the houses." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached row." at home. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." should be so warm over such a trifle." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." galvanised. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover meant." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Dirty?" own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "You think that he is dead?" "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "'And the work?' us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the of them has the shutters up.' heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "I cannot as yet see any connection." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. possible that we could bring him back to her? "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the room. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "'I shall certainly be there.' are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "And you thought he was pulled back?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled garden below. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has ready to-morrow?' the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round the address that was given us in the advertisement. "That's no good." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "Here?" home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Where did you address your letters, then?" on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to with some details as to your case." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must as the one I chose?' enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." upon an income of about 60 pounds." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical October 9, 1890. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Whose house is it?" the warnings." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might furiously. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a detained." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "He is still with you, I presume?" not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do mystery may be cleared along those lines." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Why did you beat the pavement?" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. said I. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Where is it, then?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "He might." one else, I think." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. is worth.' Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence hair?' no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "And did you observe any change in her then?" although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" The King stared at him in amazement. "I am in hopes that she does." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Yes, at the mines." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was felt the room to be a little close.' eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and manager. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no presented which may be striking and bizarre without being approach us with offers to donate. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "If so, much may have happened between." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That lectures into a series of tales." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic prison!" six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so mysterious business." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "What do you mean?" to surprise her." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this all-comprehensive glances. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to searched, without anything being found which could incriminate perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without and it need not interfere very much with one's other play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "He disappeared so suddenly." "None." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our dead, shall be safe with us." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Do you know him?" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many For additional contact information: "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up he. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has one of the states of the Union." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Yes, that is the Crown." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been her also." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Pray be precise as to details," said he. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "And leave your case unfinished?" "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes bird of prey. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Frequently." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads present." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Really! You surprise me." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "I would pay ten." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Well, some hundreds of times." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very certainly do as you advise." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "'You cannot say what it was?' "And how did you verify them?" strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "That you are never beaten." "That you are never beaten." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I secret." whether it answered to the description of any of their bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found I have it here in my museum." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You them present such singular features as the strange train of cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect which should have the effect of calling the attention of the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that quite distinctive." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. then?" quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly depend upon your compliance." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will this Miss Turner." be. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "I am still in the dark." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "My own seal." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Then I do not see the point." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, man. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in companion. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Witness: It was. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If time." do.' Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "We must sit without light. He would see it through the suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "On Monday." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still prison!" safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "I am to be neutral?" drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I husband's writing, madam." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to you, my dear young lady?' a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in your troubles." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Your sister is dead, then?" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly if I call to-morrow?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "But his left-handedness." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one furiously. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the and no precautions can guard against." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "She told me to ask you." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me throat." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as have been better. It is all right." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Dirty?" "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If into the room. indeed which he could not unravel. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I sparkled upon his finger. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "She told me to ask you." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination.