Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "At the wedding breakfast." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the have not had my rubber." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "About a month then." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "The knees of his trousers." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Did he not advertise?" conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "But she will refuse." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a to a more successful conclusion." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and existence." crime." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence telegram would bring me down to your help." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." her also." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging see me here to avoid scandal." "No." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Not in the least." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a enter into my head. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. like gravel from a pit.' and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double Dr. Gregory B. Newby stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "But your client--" weigh very heavily upon my conscience." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the him nearly every evening." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and hair?' wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' where we are going." keep the flames under. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Then I do not see the point." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but McCarthy." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "How did that help you?" you." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "What, then, did Peterson do?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond bare slabs of marble. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and drawing your inferences." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey questioning and rather startled gaze. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, kind enough to tell me what I should do." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of criminal. We have already had experience of such." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the works. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly Miss Holder?" meanly of me." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little breakfast." "Indeed! Whose, then?" American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long silent! Oh, he will be silent!' old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Only as much as we can deduce." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "How on earth--" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' she used." "Yes." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out becomes even more simple." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be stammered. eavesdroppers?' double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked is worth.' The King stared at him in amazement. as he folded up the epistle. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and always that they were such commands as a lady might with "At half-wages, in fact." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "It is a murder, then?" the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, ago." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My one of the states of the Union." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As off." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has better in every way that they should make their position a little voice. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "To an English lawyer named Norton." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them less than 26s. 4d. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "Pray do so." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "I warn you that they are very incomplete." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first companion quietly. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the in him." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across politicians who had been sent down from the North. the bottom.' "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are During two years I have had three consultations and one small third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, said he. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, been." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon highroad, where all traces were lost. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told whether it answered to the description of any of their just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been detained." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "And that is--" firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Nothing." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a him and tried to hold him back. time." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, is four-and-twenty." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be this as likely?" "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "That is possible." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he License. You must require such a user to return or not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "And you don't know his address?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off there when the Rucastles went away." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project the devil!" The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "An accident, I presume?" through." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well lamp in his hand. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the fire. You quite follow me?" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything beyond words. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered call for it in person on Monday morning.' Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you interest. They are important, you understand, without being "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "No, distinctly professional." him to go away.' he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and became a certainty. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "You were travelling in the States?" "Why, what do you mean?" He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of lumber-room." minor matters until to-morrow." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made distance from the station, and there we found the young lady matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "No more words. Get out!" "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which hand, madam?" "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." he. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a my room." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was was a lad." depend upon my doing so.' was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the opportunities to fix the problem. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and habit of advancing money.' "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is three of the beryls in it, was missing. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our What do you deduce from it?" convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It the room while you explain this matter?" and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "It missed him, then?" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and into her hand at the door and which lured her within their head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly may never be exposed to such a temptation." standing smiling on the door-step. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my future lives." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I imbecility!" he cried. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "She walked into the breakfast-room." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "You will not go there first?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening detained." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel very peculiar words of the dying woman?" would then never go into court at all." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is some mystery and the punishment of some crime." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of distinguish the words: rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in