twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "That's no good." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were be best to do. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. made him keep the appointment." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge at a side door. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "In which, sir?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of digesting their breakfasts at home." "How did you deduce the select?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the the so-precious time, but come!' was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. appeal." "And you don't know his address?" "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian Arthur Conan Doyle "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate straighten it?" Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "No, but the enclosure is." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Pray do so." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "We have tried and failed." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but most interesting one." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of that I may have something better before very many minutes are from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Ha! you find it so?" directly by questioning you." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Leave Paddington by the 11:15." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "My private note-paper." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It lamp. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of during which he might have communicated with his friend the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "One?" the loss of it. "Did he not advertise?" I have it here in my museum." asked. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "The murder was done with it." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "It surprised me." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at which our visitor detailed to us. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "I am armed." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my call you and give you the chance." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the chance at all." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the Cross for the Continent." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his kind enough to tell me what I should do." with you alone." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he the night.' "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Just look it up, then." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, gives a meaning to it." "Ha! you find it so?" myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "And how have you succeeded?" very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I carpenter." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and My friend smiled. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this to have that photograph." already been minutely examined." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." business?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "But who is he?" Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite His name is Francis Prosper." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce him!" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from this man was intellectual?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. nights." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "I assure you that I am in your hands." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "My photograph." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend himself. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as any more." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." companion quietly. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning go back?" desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At approach us with offers to donate. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "By train from Waterloo." "Can I be of assistance?" go from here to the Strand." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Witness: I must still refuse. through." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Always." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. allusion to a rat. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "What! You do not mean bodies?" other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. hour." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Two days later this same performance was gone through under and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly your most interesting statement." sneer upon his pale face. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was been lifted and conveyed somewhere." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in was shining brightly. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing face and glided from the room. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door asked. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, the night.' with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "He is dead," cried several voices. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "But what will you do?" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark bonnet, and went out." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it Foundation it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark tell them apart.' "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been writers could invent nothing more crude." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was straightened it out again. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Yes." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the again on its way. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the may never be exposed to such a temptation." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "But how will you look?" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" up this clue while it is still hot." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Indeed! Whose, then?" III. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De be there in time for your coming." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. a good hundred miles off by now." and all of them with the keenest interest. But Holmes shook his head gravely. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." papers on the sundial.'" day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged front of me. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Certainly." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "The King of Scandinavia." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, visitors." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the The events in question occurred in the early days of my Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Could he throw no light?" and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There opened the door, and slipped through. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do in this way: room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and question. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey flock.' misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "You horrify me." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in later, upon the night of May 2nd." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, the one as in the other." "There are none." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the come either from the window or the door. My attention was we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door skylight. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "He said that you could solve anything." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had you." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on through." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the nothing of it?" It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical ways of our fellow-men." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "No, my brougham is waiting." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to thin legs towards the fire. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "Your sister is dead, then?" done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. a monotonous occupation." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes matter." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I heavily into it. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if with you alone." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which my special province." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Where to?" mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Do you go out much in society?" the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a meant." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is quickly through a disagreeable task. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "No good news?" "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, horse could go." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save who was a member of your goose club." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a must compliment you." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a father's young wife. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the