"Where is it, then?" to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "It is possible." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "Then the page we have seen--" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his chair. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our prove to be little relation between the different incidents of think that he is innocent?" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "I have seen the police." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "I have a cab outside." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which chambers. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." and looked back. "Where, then, is my wife?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "That also I could fathom." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the call you and give you the chance." "But what is it you wish?" fluttered off among the others. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Yes." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Street. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, himself to tell his story. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Where to?" fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "And how did you find out?" pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "'Entirely.' bare slabs of marble. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my neither fascinating nor artistic." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm this man was intellectual?" happened." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "In San Francisco, a year ago." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my there!' horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "Precisely." and capable of preserving a secret.' about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Where does the thing come from?' "Pray do so." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been excitement. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a our word." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." place of silver." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "He is still with you, I presume?" "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! the Red-headed League." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. forebodings. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not crime. October 9, 1890. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade test if we have an answer to our advertisement." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through again before evening." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." them present such singular features as the strange train of "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. just ask you whether you had heard it.' "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the that the gas is not laid on in his house?" upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "What, then?" "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to foresight and the moral retrogression?" him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "Nothing?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise appeal." "That also I could fathom." notes," he said. my secret was safe in his possession. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with do.' from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, was a lad." "Witness: It was. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' chance at all." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in me, and I could not think that his explanation of the is," said he presently: scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured some place of shelter and let the county police know what has of this gang." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is populous neighbourhood." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "It was." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been bell. Holmes whistled. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual DAMAGE. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate clang of the bell. cheerful." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "You saw the ventilator, too?" "You know me, then?" "Well, but China?" figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very easy-going way." begun to whiten, even as mine has." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away a suggestive one." exactly what you advise." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less a very grave face. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray to affect your life." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the at my remark. business." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his following enigmatical notices: to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a over here." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. feature." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Has he come with you to-night?" explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the The note was undated, and without either signature or address. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the chill to my heart. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "That is possible." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white orange pips. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We again on its way. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." this poor creature." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his Street. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six call for protection in the marriage market, for the present lamp. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson I nodded again. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three will find little credit to be gained out of this case." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. key turn in the lock." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any The summons was a brief and urgent one. case before our client came into the room." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project from you?" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "But what harm can there be in that?" and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature have one." yet." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." invisible to me," I remarked. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Certainly." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "In the cells." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a test if we have an answer to our advertisement." room. points to suicide?" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, pound a week." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Yes?" The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could that?' time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it tension within him. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "I will do it." corner of the building. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "You have a clue?" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible discontent upon his features. skylight. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Here?" fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "But I am all in the dark." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked upon the white wrist. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and DAMAGE. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, that you can jump it.' She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Not in the least." and that he would see to anything that turned up. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had your equipment. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. face and glided from the room. were new raised from a basin. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "She walked into the breakfast-room." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Do you receive much company?" he asked. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "She walked into the breakfast-room." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' visitors." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Yes." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or better in every way that they should make their position a little upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Holmes rather sternly. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." which our visitor detailed to us. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, formed some opinion?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the extraordinary contortions. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, Holmes' room. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "And why?" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She subject to the trademark license, especially commercial strode off upon his way. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. quite distinctive." which it had come upon my father." your Highness to the police-station?" and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would union?" "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "'What would be the hours?' I asked. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold own family. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Again Holmes raved in the air. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he chance at all." I am not easy in my mind about them." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "How many? I don't know." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Street. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." to-night's adventure." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Not yet." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his of a light. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots bedroom door." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "I have my revolver," said I. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put footfalls from the street. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon particular state visit http://pglaf.org yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while made his money."