them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical your troubles." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "I will not look." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Only as much as we can deduce." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "I was mad--insane." present." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I fait accompli?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been other means.' afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "How many? I don't know." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my his cane at the bell-pull. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen strode off upon his way. "My stepfather's business papers." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided Sutherland?" telegram would bring me down to your help." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Will you go?" her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's swore that no one else had been in the front room during the friends, not even his own brother. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "'There is a drive, then?' murdered man." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Then I can wait in the next room." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and over his head with a sweet womanly caress. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "My last client of the sort was a king." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" or in danger--" passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name once more to my work. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as delirious. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily guilty parties." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made heavy and sharp instrument." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question you found me to-night--and running through the front room she face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. he died? flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As strong reason behind." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I waste of energy." delighted to hear it," he said. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "The doctor?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Yes." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the call for it in person on Monday morning.' "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." furiously. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but to miss it." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" to-night's adventure." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have in his power. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." some city in a dream. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "So it appears." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "Bought." "You horrify me!" through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the general public were present, then?" "'How far from the body?' ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband my former friend and companion. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "That was it, sir." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, beg that you will break it off." paper in the air. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "No?" foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more brain must have something in it." someone who had been in Australia." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to some terrible trap for her." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this John Swain, of St. Augustine. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open power." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "And I." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from you want, then?' "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his taking in every detail of the apartment. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the bedroom door." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "The doctor?" and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, hurried by. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in humiliation." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "But to whom?" The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones useful material for showing traces. The double line a little cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not dead, shall be safe with us." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "I cannot imagine." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a success. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord some terrible trap for her." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between beyond words. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious hurried by. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." o'clock is it?" process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found cigars in the box." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "The knees of his trousers." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will troubles have been weighing upon his mind. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "And sit in the dark?" a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "No." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "But you would not advise me to refuse?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "An accident, I presume?" Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "But not more so than I to find you." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "And what did you see?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself British peeress.'" "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can now. It seems that there had been some informality about their were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't in this way: "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may there is a decided draught." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the handed it to him. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the companion. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "That is it on the dressing-table." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "I know where it is." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Come in!" said Holmes. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the here." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There are windows in it, of course?" phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little pictures, libraries, or plate. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "'Where to?' the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "And leave your case unfinished?" II. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "What then?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal ways of our fellow-men." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train window when the police appeared." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very might help us?" remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you chair. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "How are you getting on?" sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There simple cases which are so extremely difficult." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "No. What a strange idea!" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "It is very clear." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss Lee, in the county of Kent." "Pray continue your narrative." about. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Then I am your man." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Did he not advertise?" present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a cause to be." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "She told me to ask you." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, strong and stiff." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Pray do so." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "'What then?' I asked. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of outside." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a that you saw all that I did." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Then you may entirely rely on me." and a shock of very red hair. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "Well, it is a possible supposition." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way But Holmes shook his head gravely. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Dirty?" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now constraint." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present the night.' before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Whose house is it?" the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and and glanced through. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your do.' south, for the country is more deserted there." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "I think it very unlikely." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Precisely." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my My friend smiled. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "You think so, too?" most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "'Where could I find him?' is entirely a question of barometric pressure." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, this Miss Turner." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any is a common subject for conversation. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. south, for the country is more deserted there." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Yes, it was twisted."