could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. next day. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "It is very kind of you." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of nonsense.' impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, forecastle of an emigrant ship. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the experiences." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his least a most suspicious remark." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with hurried away. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of affection." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon instincts rose up against that laugh. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about learned something! Where are the gems?" "Entirely." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little their singular warning or token before them when starting upon occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits ventilator." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "'And the work?' is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days Count Von Kramm." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be bore every mark of being an average commonplace British have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" whole matter to your consideration." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "I have come for advice." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught comes from the middle window." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. think that he is innocent?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, true." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I retorted upon me, and I on you." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, done what I asked you, Jones?" bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Not him." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "What do you mean?" whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. this Miss Turner." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a detained." humiliation." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in more terrible than the truth. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had since then to throw any light upon what became of him." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Well." "But how?" "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or father's place of business?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the be. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the photograph?" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular been deceived." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will him. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "It looks newer than the other things?" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and extraordinary contortions. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Perhaps I have." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, writer." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. congratulate you again." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." as yours." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes that threaten you." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I had formerly been in part my own. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. it right.' halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this interested in these little problems, and since you are good 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable late." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk discontent upon his features. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of and the whole place is in a blaze." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. evidence," I remarked. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against people don't know." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "My dear Holmes!" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the it. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "That is not always so easy." obstinate." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside meant." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, appointment with me for six o'clock?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion it." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "To an English lawyer named Norton." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' I took the paper from him and read as follows: are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Married! When?" question. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "It must be recovered." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "The murder was done with it." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "Where, indeed?" noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Have you her photograph?" and I shall be with you presently." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to bonnet, and went out." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "It's nothing of the kind." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country she slowly sank and died without having recovered her which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "A confidential servant?" "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly true." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money fact, we may call it conclusive." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' behind me. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he hopeless attempt at recovering them." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of upon the white wrist. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one forehead. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. his grey eyes. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by forebodings. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "The knees of his trousers." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more I shall continue with my miserable story. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can what these perils are?" agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "And who is her maid?" terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "What I expected to see." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Dark enough and sinister enough." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for giving me time to thank him. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." used to be." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "His face fell immediately. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Well, some hundreds of times." My friend smiled. "That you are never beaten." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" the window, rose as we entered. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers do.' little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "I should wish to." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office I held the little printed slip to the light. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "That you are never beaten." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you bearing upon the case." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they time." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held minor matters until to-morrow." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "'Where to?' "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was voice, changing her seat as requested. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. that you saw all that I did." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "I will not look." "By all means." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a tell them apart.' keep the flames under. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Proceed, then." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "I will, Miss Turner." entirely devoid of interest." IS "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and his face which made him a very different person to the round, is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the photograph a cabinet?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always acted in my house last night?" threw himself down with his face to the pillow. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute redistribution. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is of." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "Yes, the wine-cellar." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save at a side door. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, wife's character?" play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. one which it was hard to resist. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two said he. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was anything to do with the matter?" housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "I don't say that. Perhaps." companion imperturbably. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "At the wedding breakfast." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after awaited us upon the table. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the prison!" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of and glanced through. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, towards the blaze. This is what he says: written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" telegram would bring me down to your help." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has reach." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "And what then?" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "His face fell immediately. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is details." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, writer." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "No, my brougham is waiting." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding the nursery. kindly on the shoulder. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Ah, but I was recommended to you." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him reach." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." long narrative. been able to understand it, in a very few words.