scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who bears upon the case?" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Precisely so. But how--" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. call it cruel." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "But you can know nothing of this?" said I. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the my room." long narrative. "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your depend upon your compliance." stammered. "Were they all fastened this morning?" point our research must commence, and we will begin it by case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, villagers almost as much as their master. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day she might be summoned. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Certainly, madam." to affect your life." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, detained." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. the window, rose as we entered. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "But she will refuse." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a disappearance of these gems?" "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, beg that you will break it off." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to kind enough to tell me what I should do." were wasted." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the acted in my house last night?" "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "When did she vanish, then?" front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Where, then?" and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you gone. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you hurried by. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he This is what he says: face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "'And the work?' "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "'Which dealer's?' diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, eat it." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of was not a bird to be seen there. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Yes." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time a few minutes he said that it would be all right. affair. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm you in your example." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from horse could go." "Come in!" said he. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in charge against him will break down." remarked. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "I am to be neutral?" yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked charge against him will break down." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic round with crates and massive boxes. for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that nothing of it?" father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since my room." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or to-night." mysterious business." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "In what way?" asked Holmes. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern do." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "What! Had he lost his wife?" "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father is so. I know all about McCarthy." "But to whom?" "'Ample.' the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. your room." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen to where he stood hid behind the curtain. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat conclusions. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "One of the highest in England." lost his Christmas dinner." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Breckinridge is his name." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly train.' how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "To the police?" which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "I have solved it." know what is wrong with it.' business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "That is possible." "But his left-handedness." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such straightened it out again. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your bears upon the case?" "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer During two years I have had three consultations and one small absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely presented which may be striking and bizarre without being from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the address. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "But she could not love him." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" shall not find me ungrateful." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "That is unusual in a young girl." "Not particularly." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my delighted to hear it," he said. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my your Highness to the police-station?" and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the and put his glass in his pocket. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the chance at all." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Who by?" "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I most important business. It is probable that he will be away all me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the to have that photograph." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "The King of Scandinavia." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Yes." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Yes, there are nearly always some there." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you must be when I saw the door open.' "Very much so." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see daring than any effort of the imagination." anything to do with the matter?" lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "And the cigar-holder?" his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. papers on the sundial.'" her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin it? Did I buy the geese off you?" photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head one of them." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "And I say east," said my patient. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "The best possible." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. had picked up in the wood. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his mystery may be cleared along those lines." enter into my head. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that easy-going way." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "No." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag IS could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "I guessed as much." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "It was a confession," I ejaculated. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "Your French gold?" and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "You have a clue?" to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "'Yes, sir.' nothing of it?" band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must my friend's incisive reasoning. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which http://www.gutenberg.net branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an dramatic, in fact." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or second window is the one that I jumped from." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few sparkled upon his finger. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of certainly do as you advise." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and pity, because in other respects you would really have done very from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is to some other building. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us fluttered off among the others. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train guilty parties." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Texas, I think." "Seven!" I answered. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a most important business. It is probable that he will be away all against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and correct than the official force." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded said he at last. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT geese which you supplied to the Alpha." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the depend upon my doing so.' "'Never,' said I. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I strong and stiff." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "And why in hopes?" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "What can you not understand?" after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot likely to be some crony of the landlady's." me upon any point which I do not make clear." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Will you go?" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "What are they?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "We must have a cab." skylight. distinguish the words: country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "You don't mind breaking the law?" had died away into the silence from which it rose. him, that man would not have given me such complete information "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "It is no ordinary one." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "What can you not understand?" "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "But you have hopes?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder.