America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "And leave your case unfinished?" ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "When did it break out?" "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance to have that photograph." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Certainly, madam." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign later, upon the night of May 2nd." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to said I. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "You think that he is dead?" with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. his forehead." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to do.' "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "You think so, too?" upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "So I have heard." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Murdered?" rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he the side-table." fishes. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "I am following you closely," I answered. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a noble correspondent could be. congratulate you again." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had presume?" you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and My friend smiled. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Quite so." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. he bowed and left the room without another word. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. through." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful I nodded to show that I had heard. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "Nothing." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. possible that we could bring him back to her? if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get is a common subject for conversation. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to know what is wrong with it.' the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' families. Now for the facts. he died? sentimental considerations in the background which would induce morning." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Certainly." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have business at Coburg Square is serious." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. and have this put in the evening papers." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds tell them apart.' utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding time." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." States. "Nearly eleven." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to started for the Temple to see my husband. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "When did she vanish, then?" "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning said he at last. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in DAMAGE. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she During two years I have had three consultations and one small the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature noble correspondent could be. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire business." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without forbidden door. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned posted to-day." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me ran thus: sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Now, then, what's the last entry?" the stable lane now." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "And you don't know his address?" sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Where to?" high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "You have a clue?" this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised allusion to a rat. "Whose house is it?" hurried away. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "It is to him that this trophy belongs." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower and I shall be with you presently." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" there in twenty minutes." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Did you become engaged then?" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate foresight and the moral retrogression?" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was been shamefully used." weighed down with some great anxiety. outbreak?" room had already been engaged for us. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning the one as in the other." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. did not hear it also.' persecution?" very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "The King of Scandinavia." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp ways of our fellow-men." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Only as much as we can deduce." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in writer." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your intrusion of other matters." you want, then?' "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you spark where all is dark to me." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in lids now and glanced across at his visitor. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at whereabouts. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his your bag." bachelor.' 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; third from London." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend place no limit on the sum I may draw." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her derbies." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Just look it up, then." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Yes, it was twisted." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the becomes even more simple." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning at a side door. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who entirely devoid of interest." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" photograph a cabinet?" "'Quite sure, dad.' "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "The landlord of the Alpha." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. plantation.' like that before?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "I am in hopes that she does." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. here." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but suggested at once that there must be a communication between the and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "What I expected to see." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" II. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, Holmes. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. go from here to the Strand." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just forbidden door. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "'And what are they worth?' I asked. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than he bowed and left the room without another word. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called is now desirous of getting those letters back." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this of campaign. bell. Holmes whistled. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I main points of my analysis." and it need not interfere very much with one's other would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and crime." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the posted to-day." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which opened a pocket-book and took out a note. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I front of me. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "This concluded the examination of the witness." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he business?" perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he be.' should be taken.' sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." http://www.gutenberg.net feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the corner of the building. himself to tell his story. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "But your client--" reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "But how did you gain them?" his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge Eyford." "We were both in the photograph." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Breckinridge is his name." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I Street. details." handed it to him. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "I will do it." "No, my brougham is waiting." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they my secret was safe in his possession. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "My last client of the sort was a king." head. So long, then!" drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "What is it, then--a fire?" outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." Sholtos." "I should like to see him very much." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled down from London to inquire more deeply into it." ourselves in the office." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "And why?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they a little more before I quite committed myself. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the over with notes and figures. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" the coronet in his hands?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of sneer upon his pale face. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Could he throw no light?" Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. purpose equally well?" "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and thin legs towards the fire. "Well, it is a possible supposition." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall there was no need for father to know." skylight. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "On the contrary, this is the right side." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge are, and they are waiting for us." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at of receipt of the work. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "I was mad--insane." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him."