Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely since then to throw any light upon what became of him." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive redistribution. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting presume?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "'Which dealer's?' year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Married! When?" had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the several quiet little villages up there." never to learn it at all." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to than to us. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "None." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "But he might be a bachelor." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of wedding?" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger detective. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to wife's character?" ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. pressing in one house as in another. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are call it cruel." Edgeware Road. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and not, dad?" she asked. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." chance." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "It was a confession," I ejaculated. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded which should have the effect of calling the attention of the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a to change my dress. Chief Executive and Director once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "What, then?" more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." details." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Then I am your man." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Then he might have called to you?" five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "It was a confession," I ejaculated. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "And your mother is alive?" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would not come at once?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "At what time?" Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered was already answered. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" has little to do with my story." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" in your London, you will know that the office of the company is how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture window when the police appeared." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to fait accompli?" and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where Sutherland?" tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been at a side door. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "You heard nothing yourself last night?" look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that have established a very serious case against the son of the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without completely overtopped every other consideration that we both could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" heavy and sharp instrument." "What then?" England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Do you go out much in society?" electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "'I have heard so.' The King stared at him in amazement. writer." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it once more on the important position which you have been fortunate a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy comes from the middle window." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "I am still in the dark." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but telegram would bring me down to your help." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the envelope. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." salesman. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "I cannot tell." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Where, then?" Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old even of instruction." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "But what is it you wish?" "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Edgeware Road. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Come in!" said Holmes. you came in." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Yes, I have one waiting." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I prison!" evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been generous with you in money matters.' train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set asked with his eyes open. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated at a side door. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have instincts rose up against that laugh. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up and I shall be with you presently." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Eh? What was that?" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs I was concerned in it." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Yes." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Well, but China?" repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he would then never go into court at all." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings place of silver." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "In answer to an advertisement." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Well, but China?" unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and The summons was a brief and urgent one. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Yes?" claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's that the gas is not laid on in his house?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you one's self under obligations.' professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look my room." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' least a most suspicious remark." "'Yes, sir.' cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' Cross for the Continent." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "My photograph." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But strength in the others." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "What have you done?" asked Holmes. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings must compliment you." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "'Is 4 pounds a week.' because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "I will try. What is it?" scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "But your client--" "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' that you can jump it.' waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my you want, then?' the Red-headed League." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was locked." "Have you it here?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy which we had just quitted. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was and that he would see to anything that turned up. "One of his hands." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or shaken than I had ever seen him. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I man. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met speckled band?" laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. to change my dress. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "But what harm can there be in that?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "'There is a drive, then?' convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. respectable self." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." in the hope of finding them." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had returned to France?" "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself wall." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "She walked into the breakfast-room." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at crime." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "But you have hopes?" in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very morning." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your the one as in the other." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She The police have openly confessed that they can at present make all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Pray do so." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "The King of Scandinavia." been deceived." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw come either from the window or the door. My attention was were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached from you?" compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Nearly eleven." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part such person." would then never go into court at all." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held in your London, you will know that the office of the company is room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "No, I am descending." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." tied." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose coat-tails." lamp. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square in a friendly supper." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Arthur Conan Doyle o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were to his chemical studies. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "I promise," said Holmes. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Never." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Upon what point?" Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray washing it down with a long draught of water. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right call the police, let the police find what they can.' "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as neither fascinating nor artistic." which are rolled in Rotterdam." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "It's nothing of the kind." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "'A dozen yards or so.' formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and