carpenter." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you excitement. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, will take you up to see the machine.' drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "I see many objections to any such theory." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You you understand?" "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her towards the blaze. "And for present expenses?" back alive. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "He slept on the premises." 1.E.9. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Stolen, then." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the hopeless attempt at recovering them." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed that he will be back before evening." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. cause to be." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. woman." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told figure." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." lamp. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an amused." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the that?' "Here?" unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after detained." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the retorted upon me, and I on you." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended of fine shops and stately business premises that they really went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "'No, I know no one in these parts.' little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. were wasted." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "My last client of the sort was a king." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure himself to hunt down. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me and shall probably return to London by the evening train." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Entirely." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, newspaper selections." him." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "What is it?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Entirely." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it man. I know him from the photograph." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "How can you tell that?" "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. depend upon my doing so.' rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I looking up at the numbers of the houses." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and business matters.' front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." the address that was given us in the advertisement. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you national property. I was determined that the law should have its him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence is so. I know all about McCarthy." "You forget that I know nothing about it." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the bell. Holmes whistled. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." man. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced daring than any effort of the imagination." bedroom door." "My dear Holmes!" and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing the warnings." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "What do you make of that, Watson?" money should be paid at once.' "Of Friday, June 19th." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Were they all fastened this morning?" hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" at once, for I have only half an hour." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I drawing your inferences." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel them?" remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but made him keep the appointment." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "None. Neville wrote those words." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "None." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. indeed happy." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. acquaintance?" Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "Ample." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you have been better. It is all right." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is What do you deduce from it?" that speckled band?" As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant himself to tell his story. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to the bottom.' future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," chemical work which was so dear to him. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Nothing." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so lectures into a series of tales." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass the roots. "A call for help, you thought?" "Can I be of assistance?" which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason not come at once?" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this carried out of court." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of gone. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Well." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself directors have had misgivings upon the subject." this remarkable episode. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Then you may be so with me." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." during that time.' lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "I was certainly surprised to find you there." Where does the thing come from?' from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy throat." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." the inquest, and which are worth considering." "And you can do nothing until then?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if and laid it on the table. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "That's no good." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "By all means." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' my room." What do you deduce from it?" congratulate you again." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "What can you not understand?" the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it maid will bring up your coffee." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united everything which you would wish to know." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "He said that you could solve anything." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "To the police?" the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up Have you good authority for what you say?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their you?" "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Holmes' room. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "'Certainly not. But why?' suspect him." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we bill, which interests me deeply." prisoner's face. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we questioning and rather startled gaze. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "It is to him that this trophy belongs." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. closely." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were politicians who had been sent down from the North. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. used to be." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "That is easily got." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which row." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do respectable self." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. woven round him. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "I assure you that I am in your hands." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "One?" Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were awkward doing business with an alias." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the like that before?" imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be guilty parties." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Just look it up, then." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Witness: I must still refuse. "But your client--" corner of the building. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a of campaign. "She showed me, as I told you she would." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And own family. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has noting anything else of interest. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is this remarkable episode. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on