said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. the devil!" 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features putting in the horse. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "I have come for advice." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it be.' not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Yes, they were peculiar boots." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I was feeling which was the fattest.' tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "'Very good.' "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But pound a week." "What is it, then--a fire?" and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered chance at all." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who tear off another piece?' a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him occupations.' there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. The events in question occurred in the early days of my was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had delirious. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your You want to know what became of those geese?" "But your client--" fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Yes, the wine-cellar." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with the one as in the other." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a the south-west, I see." "No, my brougham is waiting." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches of a light. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "His face fell immediately. as the one I chose?' than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, heavy and sharp instrument." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! or in danger--" of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of of a light. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from distinguish the words: outside. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce to talk it over. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No and capable of preserving a secret.' pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "But you have hopes?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever digesting their breakfasts at home." away to you." said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This his eyes and forehead. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery noble correspondent could be. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One salesman. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Countess of Morcar's?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any points in connection with it which never have been, and probably you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with yards of it?' sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said plantation.' "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Watson," he said cordially. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "What is it?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Absolutely none." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I meanly of me." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I useful material for showing traces. The double line a little Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "What will you do, then?" a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with few hundred pounds.' Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "'And the work?' pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in intrusion of other matters." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "I am following you closely," I answered. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "That is it on the dressing-table." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed sofa. This way, please!" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "And you can do nothing until then?" swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another heavily into it. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it second." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and asked with his eyes open. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "A greater distance to travel." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" stammered. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always in his hands." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest man. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I green of the new foliage. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in she has been waylaid. There has been no result." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." attention." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you papers diligently of late, have you not?" breakfast?" "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "It is solved." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my handed it to him. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, hair?' about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we photograph?" "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Upon what point?" "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Your sister is dead, then?" who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet look dissatisfied." back into the street. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to figure." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself have not had my rubber." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback it means?" "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" me. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other a very grave face. page at http://pglaf.org the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "What then?" a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the the Friday. Was it to be in church?" on in his house." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "You saw the ventilator, too?" "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a handed it to him. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "I have my revolver," said I. telegram would bring me down to your help." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" a room. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "'Never.' "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself believe that I should never have any practice at all. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between late!' "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of three fields round his house, and there he would take his fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. of them has the shutters up.' "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "I am still in the dark." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "'I have already given you my word.' The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. both be extremely obliged.' "I do." "Not him." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the to-night?" I asked. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Then you may be so with me." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "In which, sir?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I signal between you and your father? particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the this as likely?" "He is dead," cried several voices. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "You think that he is dead?" the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than think that any burglar could have done. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a were new raised from a basin. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "How did you trace it, then?" morning." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a learned something! Where are the gems?" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled I approached. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Pool. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly me where it went to?" the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Did you observe the colour?" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, walking." "And leave your case unfinished?" the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly papers on the sundial.'" and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my we went to search for him, face downward in a little home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand she slowly sank and died without having recovered her and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "I answered that I had not. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the