dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "The Coroner: What do you mean? "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would I. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "My dear Holmes!" newspaper selections." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "'No, I know no one in these parts.' At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many from you?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "There is the writing." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, best detective that ever lived. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter you do it in twenty minutes!' slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of Leadenhall Street--and--" "My private note-paper." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if the armchair which I pushed forward for him. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "On the contrary, this is the right side." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." you in yours." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," not as remarkable as your advertisement." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the His name is Francis Prosper." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell of." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "'Where could I find him?' I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever present." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "And what did you learn from him?" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "He said that you could solve anything." felt?" time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "You have but to name it." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to intrusion of other matters." he died? gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Were they all fastened this morning?" liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming himself to tell his story. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses once more for Briony Lodge. "But you have hopes?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "What have you to say now?" "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you that "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Yes, that is the Crown." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "You horrify me!" the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "About a month then." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did to Leatherhead. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, straightened it out again. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in could not have written that. It is the German who is so "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are questioning and rather startled gaze. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This throat." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "So I heard. You have him here?" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a cigars in the box." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even cigar and let me expound." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, writer." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his gives a meaning to it." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room closing the door. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic recover the gem." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on very peculiar words of the dying woman?" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his villagers almost as much as their master. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but in a friendly supper." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies be best to do. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the must compliment you." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault I am not easy in my mind about them." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind the window, rose as we entered. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for fish-monger and a tide-waiter." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the triumphant cloud from his cigarette. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" as he remarks, very much against the son." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite you." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, get the tickets." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or society." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "I say it is." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "It looks newer than the other things?" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "She walked into the breakfast-room." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and your only hope of safety." cup of tea. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when was already answered. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house went to the Alpha were town bred." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "How did you deduce the select?" arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel read it out to me." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging IS a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London guilty one." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, washing it down with a long draught of water. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Yes, certainly." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." Countess of Morcar's?" became a certainty. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you father's place of business?" the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to Pool. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and fled together." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "Yes, only one." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, points to suicide?" daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads room?" behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few call it cruel." said I. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "'There is a drive, then?' "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Yes." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "I saw her in conversation with her maid." John Swain, of St. Augustine. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Was there a secret marriage?" journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "It's nothing of the kind." client, rising. tied." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Holmes rather sternly. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the drove away. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded do.' One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Then I do not see the point." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up rooms." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Perhaps we may make them less so." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "'Ten to two.' companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door three of the beryls in it, was missing. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he cigar and let me expound." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" Street. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly some city in a dream. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "What have you to say now?" five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She of Fenchurch Street." "What will you do, then?" "Yesterday." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to heavily into it. "Was there a secret marriage?" "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "What shall I do?" the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a this as likely?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found ordinary clothes on?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "I am still in the dark." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "It is very kind of you." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the you do it in twenty minutes!' tell me that you intended to go into harness." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "I beg pardon." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "Of what?" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "I am sure." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I him to be an active member of the medical profession." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination some place of shelter and let the county police know what has already referred to. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. occupations.' I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, recall any case within my experience which looked at the first breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a case before our client came into the room." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking village inn over there?" "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in danger is over." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most not use it unless it is absolutely needed." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." this remarkable episode. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal hair?' him!" likely to be some crony of the landlady's." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our colour had been driven from his face. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "'Yes, it was gone.' you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the that he will be back before evening." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Will you go?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." Dr. Gregory B. Newby appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the depend upon your compliance." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the young Openshaw's." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet had formerly been in part my own. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole intrusion of other matters." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Pray do so." to Leatherhead. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "How on earth--" the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign