might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us very old mansion. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and was feeling which was the fattest.' pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "That is it on the dressing-table." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Then I am your man." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "By all means." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and unprofitable." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Your French gold?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I be best to do. fatally injured? "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell garden below. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "'And the work?' they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Can I be of assistance?" the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of burst out into a roar of laughter. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. question. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "A confidential servant?" the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You it." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Why, what do you mean?" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom answer." It may be so in this case, also." "The Cedars?" the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of said I. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "What do you make of that, Watson?" their singular warning or token before them when starting upon begin with, and I had not got mine yet." forecastle of an emigrant ship. "My last client of the sort was a king." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. handed it to him. have accepted such a situation. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she cup of tea. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "You have but to name it." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you had formerly been in part my own. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I threw himself down with his face to the pillow. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "In what way?" asked Holmes. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "'Oh, no.' down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Yes, he did." as he folded up the epistle. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, confronted him. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I situation." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey Eyford at 11:15.' pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given a suggestive one." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "It missed him, then?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as this man was intellectual?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words me." to arrive at through this?" leaning back in his chair. paper in the air. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "The best possible." of it with the greatest attention. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream who was a member of your goose club." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten never to learn it at all." will not take me long to tell. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Yes, that is the Crown." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the already been minutely examined." if only as a check to my own memory." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "And who is her maid?" was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "And why?" becomes even more simple." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "Very truly yours, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "A confidential servant?" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It matter." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "'What then?' I asked. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the for its centre. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham me where it went to?" Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom as this. Pray let me have the details." prison!" actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a derbies." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "'Stolen!' he cried. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "I will try. What is it?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the hands. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to Chief Executive and Director his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," pierced for earrings?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a south, for the country is more deserted there." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of Holmes." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the the coroner come to?" like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were presented which may be striking and bizarre without being been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the in this way: blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' laugh and put his lips to my ear. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune fish-monger and a tide-waiter." once more for Briony Lodge. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in British peeress.'" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new status with the IRS. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' foresight and the moral retrogression?" his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Your French gold?" running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to him to go away.' Mary, has deserted me." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was British peeress.'" lamp. "He is still with you, I presume?" and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in help us in this matter." which we had just quitted. his grey eyes. less than 26s. 4d. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, had formerly been in part my own. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "No, thank goodness, she did not." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project your bag." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good have an American origin." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Pope's Court. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry upon the white wrist. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read that you saw all that I did." young Openshaw's." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of examine." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "No bad?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new the morning and make my own way in the world.' near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "Yes. He waved his hands." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "But you would not advise me to refuse?" the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "'Certainly not.' chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some look upon these things in a different way." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest which I could not give. He asked for Alice. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall he. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "What of the rat, then?" a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his situation." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours was feeling which was the fattest.' was a perfect sample of the class. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with death." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Certainly." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an photograph?" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Perhaps we may make them less so." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, the coroner come to?" this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." arrested. You then--" running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead already referred to. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, in this way: "BALLARAT." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't himself in a perplexing position. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece be sorry for having acted so harshly." "You did not overhear what they said?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend giving me time to thank him. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill to affect your life." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had annoyance, but no jest. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed been deceived." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "And how did you verify them?" "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. him." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "I was certainly surprised to find you there." License. You must require such a user to return or "No, I think that I'll take it." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight."