convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other back to my heart. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "But you would not advise me to refuse?" I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though what I may call a really hard day's work." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for death." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it my special province." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such point our research must commence, and we will begin it by and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "I have a cab outside." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and http://www.gutenberg.net cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "But you can know nothing of this?" corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such daring than any effort of the imagination." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his out of this horrible affair." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "How can you tell that?" "Here?" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from back to my heart. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Why did you pick him?" "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock to his chemical studies. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "I will do it." think you a quite exceptional woman." telegram would bring me down to your help." "Yes. He waved his hands." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower McCarthy's innocence. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. with frightened eyes at his accuser. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "But the mystery?" trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone ran thus: "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "We have tried and failed." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "I cannot as yet see any connection." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "At what time?" "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, house for five minutes.' from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a is four-and-twenty." "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, the general public were present, then?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "There is the writing." side. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon wanted for ourselves." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the flock.' his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "We must have a cab." the coronet at all injured?" it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" think you a quite exceptional woman." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." interests were the same as his." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "This photograph!" therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "At half-wages, in fact." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "'What are you doing there?' he asked. to arrive at through this?" dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the a very grave face. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might direction." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are peculiar to him. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried Watson," he said cordially. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of I am not easy in my mind about them." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "I guessed as much." garden below. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "To ruin me." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His me. You must get home instantly and act." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the bare slabs of marble. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, which we had just quitted. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. man. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Then, as to money?" but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an is so. I know all about McCarthy." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry fasten all the windows?" what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "'It is locked up,' I answered. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness would then never go into court at all." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency II. "How can you tell that?" "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of about here speaks of his kindness to him." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a I nodded again. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Miss Holder?" that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Edgeware Road. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire way in everything. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, where she found matters as described by the last witness. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" matter over." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as the Red-headed League." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "To ruin me." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood business." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A row." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the meant." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally it." "Nearly eleven." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by foot. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "No more words. Get out!" evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag skylight. promised to bring home. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "But not more so than I to find you." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father and wait." "Which are?" It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of of your young ladies.' clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly tied." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself window when the police appeared." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know is entirely a question of barometric pressure." stood on the top of it. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "I say it is." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. so.' therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which which are rolled in Rotterdam." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see green of the new foliage. "Then he might have called to you?" "A client, then?" "Yes." "What!" he roared. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in singular points about the case. What did the police think of the glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "'You doubt its value?' he asked. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Look there!" said he. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "That also I could fathom." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "'Oh, no.' "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize make me his representative both with the servants and with the your room." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce telegram would bring me down to your help." "And help." out." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "Nearly eleven." little trying to do so much typewriting?" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "No good news?" very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a within hail.' "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "I cannot think." depend upon your compliance." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this evidence," I remarked. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and prison!" "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, you?' gone before you can get him to hospital." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "A client, then?" uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "And how did you verify them?" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with footfalls from the street. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "It certainly sounds feasible." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man that he will be back before evening." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the written. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in done what I asked you, Jones?" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. you." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair down in his armchair and closing his eyes. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but now. It seems that there had been some informality about their grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a bedroom door." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "It came here." to talk it over. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head never to learn it at all." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with brain must have something in it." your most interesting statement." "I am all attention, madam." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously Miss Holder?" Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear gbnewby@pglaf.org stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Yes, they were peculiar boots." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." events, Mr. Windibank!" "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I His smile broadened. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. invisible to me," I remarked. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "'Where to?' Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in all-comprehensive glances. "Where did he live, then?" Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take 1.E.9. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between shaken than I had ever seen him. child?'