man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of bearing upon the case." will take you up to see the machine.' "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." look dissatisfied." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous do." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a neither fascinating nor artistic." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. pound a week." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded Cross for the Continent." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether this remarkable episode. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "How do you know, then?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was and inquire as to the address." Again Holmes raved in the air. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the could gather together that I was able to avert another public fact, we may call it conclusive." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and upon the white wrist. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "What steps will you take?" I asked. stammered. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It would apply.' not use it unless it is absolutely needed." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Yesterday." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "How often?" "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "But not more so than I to find you." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug you?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. matter." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and our word." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Indeed! Whose, then?" years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. Street. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from shoulder. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Was your sister dressed?" brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his thought that she would have been so carried away." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "I do." head. So long, then!" part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the will he say when he returns?" Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "Has he come with you to-night?" the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Certainly." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your there is a decided draught." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "It came here." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more she used." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "An accident, I presume?" Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a visitors." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have posted to-day." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a I nodded again. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "The best possible." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "The knees of his trousers." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Stolen, then." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Witness: It was. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave been shamefully used." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I Cross for the Continent." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "'What do you call purely nominal?' you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "It is a murder, then?" was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was Young McCarthy must be got off, however." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Stolen." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "But she will refuse." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled Pope's Court, Fleet Street." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips your troubles." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must goes." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "No, I had a dozen." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "'Certainly not. But why?' stalked out of the room. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "So I heard. You have him here?" "I answered that I had not. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "But how will you look?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as Doctor, of the paper and the date." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case hair?' into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a felt?" comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Then I shall certainly come." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were infinite languor in his face. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found III. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." once more for Briony Lodge. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the over his head with a sweet womanly caress. out of this horrible affair." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has views." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in likely to be some crony of the landlady's." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Ten will be early enough." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of was keenly on my guard against him. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried bonnet, and went out." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to purpose of examination. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her his cane at the bell-pull. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said business came to an end." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the ready to-morrow?' "Absolutely none." pierced for earrings?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Certainly." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must have been better. It is all right." mystery may be cleared along those lines." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But that you saw all that I did." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which during that time.' heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered my friend's incisive reasoning. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. eavesdroppers?' the driver. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would tell him that I know him to be innocent." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP help us in this matter." telegram would bring me down to your help." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a the salesman. above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Deserted you?" dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed as the one I chose?' "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, simple cases which are so extremely difficult." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "Well?" became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done anything to do with the matter?" ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" congenial hunt. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she persecution?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "I am all attention, madam." guilty parties." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. against a man in the prime of life?" Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the the house with me." people in all walks of life. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings foresight and the moral retrogression?" "'There is a drive, then?' realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Project Gutenberg-tm works. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your means taking possession of that which another person has a prior flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to here and I will read it to you: de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you so.' he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the undoubtedly my uncle's." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. death." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. this Miss Turner." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "Yes, sir." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my man. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I fattened it expressly for you.' India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Where, then, is my wife?" named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; maiden herself was most instructive." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." the running down." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell someone who had been in Australia." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, events, Mr. Windibank!" stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "It must be recovered." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a is four-and-twenty." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of occurred." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. absorbing." into the room. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "I think that it is very probable." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual again." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open knowledge of the world." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "What do you mean?" his huge brown hands. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Upon what point?" from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Can I be of assistance?" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were the coronet in his hands?" settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken It may be so in this case, also." he died? "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." up this clue while it is still hot." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR cup of tea. do.' Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered relation between them, and what the object of his repeated signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his of them has the shutters up.' minor matters until to-morrow." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making could go. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "It is very kind of you." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "I have solved it." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce see me here to avoid scandal." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in The summons was a brief and urgent one.