"Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At wedding?" "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to new duties?' soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "But how did you gain them?" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "I will, Miss Turner." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most beg that you will break it off." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "What are they?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for impression behind it as though a window had gently closed far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who my little problems." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the 1.E.9. Pool. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" you, my dear young lady?' and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be few hundred pounds.' all-comprehensive glances. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your sound at heart." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Now, then, what's the last entry?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. unprofitable." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they closely." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled since then to throw any light upon what became of him." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing before, for it was considerably after midnight. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "It is a murder, then?" myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an chambers. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "And when will you call?" "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both to-morrow." once more. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "We must have a cab." "What is it, then--a fire?" again before evening." guilty parties." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by least a fellow-countryman. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not it." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "No." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "And leave your case unfinished?" month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "Just look it up, then." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "I will get her to show me." standing smiling on the door-step. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' had picked up in the wood. you." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent room had already been engaged for us. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Why, what do you mean?" your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my morning." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective until night should bring an explanation. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual some place of shelter and let the county police know what has framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods other lovers by making love himself." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the habit of advancing money.' "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, them, and came down just as you departed. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my crime." have not had my rubber." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Very well, sir. And this stone?" see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt go--none." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "What of the rat, then?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "But how?" "Upon what point?" think, you have already met." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I III. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a in a very precise fashion." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been friend's singular character. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my paper in the air. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" think you a quite exceptional woman." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." outside. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "At what time?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "'Is purely nominal.' lost his Christmas dinner." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "No sign of it?" them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Eyford." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "It surprised me." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are with the outside air!" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "What then?" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me enter into my head. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it both be extremely obliged.' anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. about. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." gives a meaning to it." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said residence of the great financier. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" of the vacancies.' "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. opened the door, and slipped through. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the occurred." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his distinguish the words: over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about Foundation opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be three fields round his house, and there he would take his remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "I answered that I had not. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you extraordinary contortions. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Miss Holder?" "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Proceed, then." "Nothing?" upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "There is the writing." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "So I have heard." very morning of my second wedding." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: was a lad." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "ARAT," I read. "'How far from the body?' The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out works. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I few hundred pounds.' If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "And what did you see?" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost me. You must get home instantly and act." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. to you." fire. You quite follow me?" Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay have accepted such a situation. kind enough to tell me what I should do." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see forehead. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps train.' was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his as noiselessly as she had come. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "A greater distance to travel." less than 26s. 4d. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I brandy and water within his reach. "And you thought he was pulled back?" dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I will, Miss Turner." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and call you and give you the chance." "A client, then?" previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Witness: It was. Holmes rather sternly. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H this truth that in these little records of our cases which you upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "And why in hopes?" Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me copied or distributed: instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very of a light. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my drawing your inferences." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of not, dad?" she asked. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. friend's singular character. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, cigars in the box." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and walking." fear." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Of what day?" goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad acted in my house last night?" the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking rooms." the date of his supposed suicide." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous trying to your nerves." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." absorbing." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Two days later this same performance was gone through under seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and tell me that you intended to go into harness." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would call for protection in the marriage market, for the present through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." became a certainty. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being