closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "How did you deduce the select?" "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by constraint." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my I approached. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very the tragedy. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the beyond words. Doctor, of the paper and the date." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he imbecility!" he cried. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open grasp, he hurried from the room. "And I." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. to miss it." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly this as likely?" than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project than was visible to me." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about 'I should be able to look after that for you.' year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the Friday. Was it to be in church?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." salesman. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Where is it, then?" "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch second." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to test if we have an answer to our advertisement." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. me upon any point which I do not make clear." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive people don't know." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Could he throw no light?" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was over part of the map. "What do you read?" wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Stolen." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the chance at all." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a point our research must commence, and we will begin it by brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "You did not overhear what they said?" constraint." mystery." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "I cannot say that I have." "What will you say?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the morning." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "You think that he is dead?" enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't said he at last. "By no means." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: this Miss Turner." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, charge against him will break down." a good hundred miles off by now." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Certainly." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and of Mr. Rucastle's." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad the devil!" "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Holmes' face clouded over. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much prisoner's face. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my McCarthy's innocence. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "Why did you beat the pavement?" boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I little adventures." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "I promise," said Holmes. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "'Ample.' "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would said I. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "No bad?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, man. I know him from the photograph." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my of." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." conduct the inquiry." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next your billet.' the nursery. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, highroad, where all traces were lost. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up redistribution. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Yes, it was twisted." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away evidence," I remarked. you in your example." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "Nothing?" comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "But of what society?" "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again hard-headed British jury." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and stammered. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "Entirely." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our have had none more fantastic than this." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some information in his hands the value of which he did not himself perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the future lives." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that intrusion of other matters." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a these bleak autumnal evenings." least a fellow-countryman. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the this man was intellectual?" and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the awaited us upon the table. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "You horrify me." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He writer." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There carried out of court." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Look there!" said he. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought said he at last. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." back to my heart. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little three of the beryls in it, was missing. way in." "And what did you learn from him?" The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Then, as to money?" some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "I have solved it." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your yourselves in at night?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. room?" iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" be best to do. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Really! You surprise me." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil way in everything. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same better in every way that they should make their position a little This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no my friend's incisive reasoning. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that man. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his kind enough to tell me what I should do." think that any burglar could have done. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Witness: I must still refuse. guilty one." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It Holmes." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Tired-looking or fresh?" has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "'Tell me all about it,' said I. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning the very morning of the wedding." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "The vanishing of the lady." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "I promise," said Holmes. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been colonel looking down at me. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on cup of tea. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all obstinate." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Indeed! Whose, then?" "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading was used.' together. will not take me long to tell. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our II. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." this as likely?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" of note-paper. It read in this fashion: my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Was the window open?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. next day. "Yes, certainly." in this way: my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "I am armed." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself and the colonel ushered me in. drawing your inferences." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "What shall I do?" "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew was a perfect sample of the class. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the me what he had done with the three missing stones. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you there in twenty minutes." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very drawing your inferences." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from in him." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "And you can do nothing until then?" What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him said he. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see again." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "But what harm can there be in that?" ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed guilty one." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle Henry Baker is a member." my former friend and companion. the coronet at all injured?" "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "Yes." neither fascinating nor artistic." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Awake, Watson?" he asked. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which words came to my lips. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, now. It seems that there had been some informality about their that before taking the final step I should like to submit the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin But Holmes shook his head gravely. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Then you may be so with me." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon photograph?" concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in yards of it?' iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or bearing upon the case." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his the window, rose as we entered. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He with the outside air!" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "You have the photograph?" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." business came to an end." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further kindly on the shoulder. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not now. It seems that there had been some informality about their purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds possible that we could bring him back to her? my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Who by?" armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and already referred to. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this go from here to the Strand." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "You'll never persuade me to believe that." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his The police have openly confessed that they can at present make most interesting one." "We were both in the photograph." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The