them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour second." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in formed some opinion?" strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of the best of training." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "And leave your case unfinished?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and matter." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." situation." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the unkempt, staring out at me. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Yes, he did." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Here?" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not London for the present?" "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him empty. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "But you would not advise me to refuse?" everything which you would wish to know." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "No, but the enclosure is." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think row." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "How did he come?" idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the there." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a of his shoulders. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a until night should bring an explanation. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Two days later this same performance was gone through under this remarkable episode. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "And for present expenses?" it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Very murderous indeed." "If I can be of use." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Were they all fastened this morning?" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire http://www.gutenberg.net your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Ah!" was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two least a fellow-countryman. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "It is solved." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. compunction about shooting them down." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "The King of Scandinavia." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a from the brougham. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "'Yes, I promise.' on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought to his chemical studies. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Frequently." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I been with you?" and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "What?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that these bleak autumnal evenings." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We depend upon my doing so.' the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the excitement. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been appeared upon the scene." so far?" her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had his huge brown hands. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "Yes, they were peculiar boots." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Yes." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "What shall I do?" rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman read over the extraordinary announcement. present." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though as he folded up the epistle. "'What then?' I asked. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than him. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of careless servant girl?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and introspective fashion. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very in him." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "I know where it is." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that second window is the one that I jumped from." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of Munro.' had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "It is no ordinary one." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a note?" borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of sparkled upon his finger. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His comes from the middle window." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "This concluded the examination of the witness." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "No." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between and prosperity to your house. Good-night." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, hour." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; voice, changing her seat as requested. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened you." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we intimate personal affairs in this public manner." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "By no means." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, head. So long, then!" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "And how did you find out?" her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently crime. come either from the window or the door. My attention was "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin was once confined in the cab my mission was practically States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again paper in the air. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up ran thus: absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me roused himself from his reverie. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "It is very kind of you." "Yes, all." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice said I. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and call for it in person on Monday morning.' ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put down. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "We must sit without light. He would see it through the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from for and were ordered to this address. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done ago." "A greater distance to travel." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Could he throw no light?" who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "So I am. Very much so." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in carriage. It was a chestnut." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and bill, which interests me deeply." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were better grown goose." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Did you observe the colour?" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "And on what day did he meet his death?" ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it the night.' my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "But your client--" "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. presume?" mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "I was sure that I might rely on you." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in himself to tell his story. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not might have a private word with us. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." friends, not even his own brother. "What!" he roared. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to not interfere, come what may. You understand?" enough to aid us in our search." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so to Leatherhead. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this place no limit on the sum I may draw." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my carried out of court." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. quickly through a disagreeable task. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "You have a clue?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. do.' minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "'And the work?' Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one directly by questioning you." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon but preventing her from injuring another. most interesting one." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" notes," he said. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "No, but the enclosure is." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got important." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Perhaps we may make them less so." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very dates and names. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "You forget that I know nothing about it." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Dirty?" "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. man. I know him from the photograph." purpose of examination. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless said he. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police one of them." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls that?' Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She at my own good fortune. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the excitement. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned keep the flames under. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Where, then?" advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "And how did he make his money?" probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "One?" "That's no good." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of at once, for I have only half an hour." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these the matter." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I again, where I was soon asleep. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he gives a meaning to it." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "But who is he?" and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hair?' "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "But you can know nothing of this?" "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of