pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "My last client of the sort was a king." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the the south-west, I see." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted strength in the others." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "What! a murderous attack?" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with enough to aid us in our search." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small question. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Not in a good cause." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the the address that was given us in the advertisement. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, are, and they are waiting for us." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "And sit in the dark?" faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some most interesting one." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it have got?" nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." in the hope of finding them." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I dates and names. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Yes, at the mines." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You room?" but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Never to return." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It I approached. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "She showed me, as I told you she would." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by shall not find me ungrateful." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend lectures into a series of tales." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. not personally threatened." that you saw all that I did." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "None." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got London for the present?" strode off upon his way. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. his knees, staring into the fire. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," of Mr. Rucastle's." to-night." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the this truth that in these little records of our cases which you same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the a suggestive one." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you definite end. his eyes and forehead. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed works. "I am still in the dark." Leadenhall Street--and--" the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" yourselves in at night?" "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the thirty. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "No." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature made him keep the appointment." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "I think that it is very probable." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep in. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Where did he live, then?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "And what did you learn from him?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great events, Mr. Windibank!" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a intrusion of other matters." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "What of the rat, then?" should be taken.' Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove questionable one." more terrible than the truth. started for the Temple to see my husband. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea back into the street. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. to his chemical studies. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no not personally threatened." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a McCarthy's innocence. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm you?' the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "And how did you verify them?" their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, any more." "We were both in the photograph." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the annoyance, but no jest. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the do.' made him keep the appointment." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate his eyes and forehead. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, happened." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich call for it in person on Monday morning.' said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She matters immensely." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was begin with, and I had not got mine yet." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but pressing in one house as in another. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us tapping his fingers upon the table. The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Quite so." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. all-comprehensive glances. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "How about poison?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual disturbance in my wife." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to money should be paid at once.' and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." his grey eyes. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of matter." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Do you receive much company?" he asked. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came careless servant girl?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say tightly behind him. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "No bad?" "No bad?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "My last client of the sort was a king." "No, I had a dozen." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." himself to tell his story. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they shoulder; "he's all right." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "What I expected to see." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might cigars in their mouths. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "About a month then." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "'There is a drive, then?' and shall probably return to London by the evening train." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of will be renamed. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual call for protection in the marriage market, for the present as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could The telegram which we eventually received came late one night Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I and the whole place is in a blaze." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "I see no marks." "But you have hopes?" pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for about. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "But not more so than I to find you." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by row." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "The Coroner: What do you mean? companion. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled wanted for ourselves." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "But what is it you wish?" "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' third from London." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." examine." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on done what I asked you, Jones?" passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. corner of the building. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There to some other building. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side been able to understand it, in a very few words. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had never came back." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two now. It seems that there had been some informality about their centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "The King of Scandinavia." "And Miss Sutherland?" "In heaven's name, what for?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Ha! you find it so?" heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Very much so." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." sound at heart." pierced for earrings?" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs shoulder; "he's all right." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of derbies." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Pray tell us what has happened to you." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "That is possible." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start himself to tell his story. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "When did she vanish, then?" "Murdered?" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he again, where I was soon asleep. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two my secret was safe in his possession. to-night's adventure." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had nonsense.' "He might." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and