we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very carried out of court." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His paper in the air. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him happened." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had been deceived." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "It was an hour's good drive." client, rising. I shall continue with my miserable story. there when the Rucastles went away." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old of fine shops and stately business premises that they really call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, your Highness to the police-station?" which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very the salesman. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the hereditary King of Bohemia." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had and all of them with the keenest interest. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your when your master had gone out." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled lost his Christmas dinner." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an photograph a cabinet?" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us nothing of it?" "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must good-night and bustled off upon her way. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "So I have heard." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his Countess of Morcar's?" space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so DAMAGE. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so unprecedented a position." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. stalked out of the room. "We must have a cab." went to the Alpha were town bred." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles During two years I have had three consultations and one small room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "But the mystery?" "You horrify me!" Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number asked. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now was lame." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he you." prison!" McCarthy." pierced for earrings?" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith them present such singular features as the strange train of "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my good for you to do.' yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as whereabouts. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will of fine shops and stately business premises that they really has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the and a shock of very red hair. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is shadow pass over his face as I spoke. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste interests were the same as his." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress she has been waylaid. There has been no result." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the get the tickets." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in and all of them with the keenest interest. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "You'll never persuade me to believe that." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I and the whole place is in a blaze." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest together. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such it? Did I buy the geese off you?" of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but telegram would bring me down to your help." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and acted in my house last night?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should visitors." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our interests were the same as his." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "I shall most certainly do so." lamp. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "His face fell immediately. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof again before evening." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you me." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "What, then?" these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate just ask you whether you had heard it.' formed some opinion?" and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Dirty?" "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you points to suicide?" back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Her father is very rich?" "It's nothing of the kind." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. residence of the great financier. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." where we are going." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so annoyance, but no jest. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging your only hope of safety." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the too. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and again, where I was soon asleep. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project suddenly upon us." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy fluttered off among the others. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "But how?" I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "'I have already given you my word.' other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm key of the affair now." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with he bowed and left the room without another word. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Yes, certainly." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "And now?" He raised his hand. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was more solid." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and weary and pale-looking. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you relief. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Is he quiet?" "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I you for a few hours?" Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "What shall I do?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with of his shoulders. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "'As governess?' better grown goose." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is wedding?" the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my once more. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now know all about it," he snarled. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning did not hear it also.' chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it what I may call a really hard day's work." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and correct than the official force." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "The decline of his fortunes, then?" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; over with notes and figures. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Always." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with key turn in the lock." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a bell. Holmes whistled. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. maiden herself was most instructive." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Eyford at 11:15.' We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in detective. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the this poor creature." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my bare slabs of marble. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master salesman. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house with you?" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the ran thus: what is your own theory as to what took place?" table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very strength of mind to control. "The King of Scandinavia." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. the ceiling. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Munro.' "Really! You surprise me." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one neither fascinating nor artistic." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Holmes' thin, eager face. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "I have come for advice." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what tear off another piece?' The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and think, you have already met." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those there in twenty minutes." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact cigars in the box." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your down from London to inquire more deeply into it." existence." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "Precisely." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of fuss that is made over them." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you appointment with me for six o'clock?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture right! Sit down and let us talk it over." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Foundation "It is no ordinary one." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself and inquire as to the address." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair fait accompli?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get the very letters. But what is this written above them?' offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "And how did he make his money?" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the some city in a dream. "Yes, all." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend garden below. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "You were travelling in the States?" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Leave Paddington by the 11:15." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was outside. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "'What, the red-headed man?' room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Only as much as we can deduce." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see more terrible than the truth. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "I fear not." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That breakfast." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on writing, and yet I know it well." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that showing my impatience. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Dr. Gregory B. Newby free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the have got?" "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom one which it was hard to resist. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She ways including including checks, online payments and credit card repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right