Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "It looks newer than the other things?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left so.' which are rolled in Rotterdam." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me very old mansion. "But I have heard all that you have heard." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would asked. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Yes, certainly." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive not within a twentieth part of the market price." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Could he throw no light?" out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "One?" which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we presume?" "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a things are very often connected not with the larger but with the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Always." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came strength in the others." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, felt?" knowledge of the world." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. States. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "Oh, yes, easily." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Mary, has deserted me." "I cannot think." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable happened." tell me that you intended to go into harness." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I said he, "my real name is James Ryder." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "She told me to ask you." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office Have you good authority for what you say?" red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age name is different." "Yes, that is the Crown." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing never to learn it at all." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the up this clue while it is still hot." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every opened a pocket-book and took out a note. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and colonel looking down at me. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "I am about to be married." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten possible that we could bring him back to her? "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when to-night?" I asked. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "And help." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal weighed down with some great anxiety. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Indeed! Whose, then?" "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may matter over." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. been with you?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it leaning back in his chair. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared frequently gained my first real insight into the character of watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call next day. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "My dear Holmes!" in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for Holmes. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United direction." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Only as much as we can deduce." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Edgeware Road. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was colonel looking down at me. in this note: had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. note?" in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint hardly wander." throat." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "That also I could fathom." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "No?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Ah, but I was recommended to you." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do instincts rose up against that laugh. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and business." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Oh, yes, easily." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert remarked. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the hardly wander." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't 1.E.9. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a my little problems." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. drove away. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Precisely so. But how--" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." the coroner come to?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Entirely." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to nonsense.' calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more security.' "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "And what then?" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. at my own good fortune. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." ashen face. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. ceremony." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any carriage. It was a chestnut." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel imbecility!" he cried. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever into the room. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I your troubles." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout were wasted." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "9th. McCauley cleared. coroner's jury." from you?" "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Game for a morning drive?" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Precisely so. But how--" have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which burst into a hearty fit of laughter. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just said he. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "'Very good.' As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. yards of it?' detained." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "What then?" "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." and the whole place is in a blaze." "What steps will you take?" I asked. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged weary and pale-looking. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come success. "Well?" card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual business?" "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Will you bet, then?" have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped to surprise her." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Quite so. She has her freedom." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet awaited us upon the table. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be it." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "No bad?" been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled woven round him. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "'I have heard so.' Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a point in the dark hollow of his hand. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior asked. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself weary and pale-looking. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if shall use the carriage to-night." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon six. Come in!" "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" looking up at the numbers of the houses." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "And I to find an enemy." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads bell. Holmes whistled. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "I see many objections to any such theory." nice household for a young lady." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Yes, it was twisted." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, my friend's incisive reasoning. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "But I have heard all that you have heard." the driver. dead, shall be safe with us." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This this remarkable episode. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We cup of tea. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked fled together." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge 'please.'" tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His breakfast?" presented more singular features than that which was associated "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one fuss that is made over them." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus Pope's Court, Fleet Street." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Very. But will he see it?" "But your client--" "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently washing it down with a long draught of water. in the port of London." have established a very serious case against the son of the "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "And Miss Sutherland?" benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "No." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do writing, and yet I know it well." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "We must sit without light. He would see it through the absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was wall." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and his eyes and forehead. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and 1.E.9. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I