the room while you explain this matter?" certainly do as you advise." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that business matters.' active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A generous with you in money matters.' the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without useful material for showing traces. The double line a little at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He The King stared at him in amazement. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, hour?' a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "May I see it?" "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who I nodded to show that I had heard. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very returned to France?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her said he at last. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so fluttered off among the others. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Stolen, then." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled husband's writing, madam." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "And on what day did he meet his death?" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, at my own good fortune. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "I have hopes." "And the cigar-holder?" time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you hour?' three fields round his house, and there he would take his could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "No, distinctly professional." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. business in the City. She little knew what. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the carried out of court." behind me. seem to you to be relevant or not." had picked up in the wood. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he once more. him to be an active member of the medical profession." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "They are typewritten," I remarked. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice interest. They are important, you understand, without being accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "It was." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, digesting their breakfasts at home." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "No, thank goodness, she did not." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of public press." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's legal crime." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "I assure you that I am in your hands." "The Cedars?" "I have solved it." the south-west, I see." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" golden eyeglasses. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "'Then let me do so?' remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand himself to tell his story. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "It was." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one your Highness to the police-station?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that in a friendly supper." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To were wasted." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his girl said." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I closing the door. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said of." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. trifles." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A of your young ladies.' though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not me where it went to?" shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "That is easily got." "Pray continue your narrative." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Yes, sir." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Very. But will he see it?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets cost them two and thirty pounds." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found silent! Oh, he will be silent!' labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. gentleman's clothes. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "No good news?" came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in peculiar to him. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment sofa. This way, please!" Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should shoulder; "he's all right." problems help me to do so." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "And help." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "When did it break out?" "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Imitated." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his likely to be some crony of the landlady's." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, business." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a DAMAGE. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom thin legs towards the fire. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "'In my own bureau.' you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey about. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "That you are never beaten." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" is acting for the best. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, or in danger--" we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and that I am arrested." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting system of imprisonment?" lids now and glanced across at his visitor. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, all?" my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Breckinridge is his name." "Then the page we have seen--" bonnet, and went out." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a that, and I came down." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would strange features which were associated with the two crimes which low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "No." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean away in different directions, and I went off to make my own endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left cheerful." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. had picked up in the wood. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Your presence might be invaluable." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, some mystery and the punishment of some crime." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I begun to whiten, even as mine has." bachelor.' chambers. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and to tell." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "He said too much." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he obstinate." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "The best possible." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Was there a secret marriage?" examine." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed the armchair which I pushed forward for him. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if flock.' shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "The best possible." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were success. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." should be so warm over such a trifle." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "The knees of his trousers." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "I am armed." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "The Coroner: What do you mean? client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Yes." lamp in his hand. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black kindly on the shoulder. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Yes, sir." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who spark where all is dark to me." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every weighed down with some great anxiety. sofa. This way, please!" face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "'There is a drive, then?' little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Then you may be so with me." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. too. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter Foundation such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Certainly, madam." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Certainly, madam." you give your casting vote to?" cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in arms and began to sob in a high treble key. narrative." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been fact, we may call it conclusive." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to suggested at once that there must be a communication between the present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to points to suicide?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "And the murderer?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is Holmes' face clouded over. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman the devil!" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "You have compromised yourself seriously." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in round and wave him away like that.' broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "How are you getting on?" destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into hereditary King of Bohemia." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "You have but to name it." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is