"Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "She told me to ask you." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Deserted you?" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The call for protection in the marriage market, for the present There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Upon what point?" four million human beings all jostling each other within the "You think that he is dead?" casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, before, for it was considerably after midnight. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "At the wedding breakfast." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "You think that he is dead?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, open." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite the dangers which encompass me." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your matter." suddenly upon us." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. became a certainty. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each mysterious end." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Was there a secret marriage?" the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings highly," said Holmes. His name is Francis Prosper." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "I cannot as yet see any connection." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never the inner apartment." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "And why?" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a man. I know him from the photograph." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. answered with a sidelong glance. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "I will not look." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "Ten will be early enough." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Lee, in the county of Kent." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at once more for Briony Lodge. bell. Holmes whistled. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which Pool. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Did your wife hear all this?" circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "None." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it to affect your life." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "And on what day did he meet his death?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party and capable of preserving a secret.' member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was in my life." even of instruction." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "By train from Waterloo." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her held up the lantern and gazed about him. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the article?" "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of Sutherland?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the Munro.' overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and she might be summoned. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. money should be paid at once.' "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "And the murderer?" is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "I will get her to show me." direction." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a shall not find me ungrateful." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty speckled band?" floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "'Certainly not.' this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too purpose equally well?" of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in pound a week." fuss that is made over them." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Do you go out much in society?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "I never have." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "ARAT," I read. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever that he will be back before evening." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted stepfather?" to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," he bowed and left the room without another word. have an American origin." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been coroner's jury." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "In heaven's name, what for?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the sufficient punishment." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a the coronet at all injured?" the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most it means?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our the window, rose as we entered. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, my room." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" appeared upon the scene." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'Where to?' called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge fattened it expressly for you.' as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a Street. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination distinguish the words: to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider in a friendly supper." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you hands. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." that you saw all that I did." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Gutenberg-tm License. heavily into it. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." here and I will read it to you: SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will name is different." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I in a very precise fashion." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "And from a noble client?" "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "Look there!" said he. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the http://www.gutenberg.net a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went in your London, you will know that the office of the company is George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without out of this horrible affair." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of late." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Pray tell us what has happened to you." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On It was close upon four before the door opened, and a before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "It looks newer than the other things?" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "The gentleman I describe." it." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a everything which you would wish to know." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "And is that all?" "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my would then never go into court at all." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Holmes' thin, eager face. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at of this gang." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it kindly on the shoulder. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is forehead. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we not personally threatened." tell them apart.' she to prove their authenticity?" License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this is worth.' hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their shoulder; "he's all right." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to it right.' and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building despaired of." Holmes." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist prisoner's face. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence his huge brown hands. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would highly," said Holmes. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial might help us?" one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I everything which you would wish to know." for the market.' him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "To the police?" "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him American. Then who could this American be, and why should he that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "No, I had a dozen." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring not personally threatened." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Young McCarthy must be got off, however." indeed happy." towards the blaze. have had none more fantastic than this." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "I will try. What is it?" was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Eyford." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set him to go away.' state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "My last client of the sort was a king." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Well?" Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the happened." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' papers." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies bed dies. Does not that strike you?" James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of shoulder. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." disturbance in my wife." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his thin legs towards the fire. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the weary and pale-looking. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that