hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs tightly behind him. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one http://gutenberg.net/license). then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers how narrow had been my escape. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the later, upon the night of May 2nd." "I am about to be married." already been minutely examined." "Proceed, then." together. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. fattened it expressly for you.' "His face fell immediately. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the allusion to a rat. "'Where could I find him?' Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the later, upon the night of May 2nd." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the colonel looking down at me. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, October 9, 1890. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain I leave." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an could not account in any way for the presence of the missing the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal despaired of." "The landlord of the Alpha." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." lost his Christmas dinner." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "So I am. Very much so." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and ways of our fellow-men." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, business matters.' my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the digesting their breakfasts at home." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "And when will you call?" gives a meaning to it." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "And now?" He raised his hand. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project envelope. call for it in person on Monday morning.' wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Yes, it would be as well." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who spare." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then into the bag, and made for the door. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "And when will you call?" "And why?" with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" presume?" one or two very singular points about this room. For example, that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest brandy and water within his reach. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Could he throw no light?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "'Yes, it was gone.' conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Very. But will he see it?" and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, to a light-house. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "You think so, too?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a to-morrow." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the coroner's jury." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "How can you tell that?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of like that before?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend miles off. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "On the contrary, this is the right side." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's in. must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Never." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "I see many objections to any such theory." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "And what did you see?" Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is and the church but not where the lady lived." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." This is what he says: Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "'I am sure that I do not know.' saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for do.' see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Yes." outside." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all down. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "The gentleman I describe." "Yes, but only for you and me." behind me. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Always." chance at all." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." be sorry for having acted so harshly." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Bought." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "BALLARAT." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect the matter." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round name is different." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you trifles." yourselves in at night?" seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem It was close upon four before the door opened, and a and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the get the tickets." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Yes?" no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course arms and began to sob in a high treble key. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings subject to the trademark license, especially commercial suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "'I am sure that I do not know.' that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across it right.' until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And would then never go into court at all." "How did you deduce the select?" little adventures." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the all?" understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" believe that I should never have any practice at all. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a tail." "Here?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out ready to-morrow?' not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On matter over." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention without a word or a look. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must overpowering excitement and concern. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call companion. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY and the whole place is in a blaze." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts prisoner's face. during which he might have communicated with his friend the to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "I would pay ten." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a conduct the inquiry." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in The telegram which we eventually received came late one night believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between narrative." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Yes, he did." upon the sideboard." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, drawing your inferences." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "I see no marks." south, for the country is more deserted there." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two voice, changing her seat as requested. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, even of instruction." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "He is still with you, I presume?" swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Certainly." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's memory. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only danger is over." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, Street. has little to do with my story." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the retorted upon me, and I on you." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Get out!" said he. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Pray continue your narrative." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I see a sister of mine apply for." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking your sleep?' he died? Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is troubles have been weighing upon his mind. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "In which, sir?" last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal against a man in the prime of life?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "I have a cab outside." "Why did you beat the pavement?" lectures into a series of tales." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly and put his glass in his pocket. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it 11:15.' him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would is so. I know all about McCarthy." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. matter over." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "You don't mind breaking the law?" know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My newspaper selections." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and page at http://pglaf.org bird I ate is country bred." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. The events in question occurred in the early days of my dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found I was concerned in it." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard.