There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson events, Mr. Windibank!" "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "I am all attention, madam." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' annoyance, but no jest. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his dates and names. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' hands. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "How long did she speak to this Alice?" grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "What?" "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, business matters.' Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Who was the criminal, then?" I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as national property. I was determined that the law should have its bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "ARAT," I read. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is know all about it," he snarled. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of with you alone." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "How are you getting on?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of extraordinary contortions. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. redistribution. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house I held the little printed slip to the light. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, better grown goose." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "Yes." "I cannot tell." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a in this way: back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Is he quiet?" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "I have my revolver," said I. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you happened." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so hands. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to foot. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" and glanced through. "How often?" which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever to-night." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened http://gutenberg.net/license). year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really upon the shelf for the interim." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was such attractions and accomplishments?' scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. public press." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Nothing." touch that coronet?' prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was arrangements." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Yes, only one." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous house for five minutes.' twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before o'clock is it?" "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be excitement. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is papers diligently of late, have you not?" always that they were such commands as a lady might with of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. you give your casting vote to?" into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Yes, it was twisted." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "'I have already given you my word.' which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "She showed me, as I told you she would." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the not come at once?" her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "Was he the only applicant?" Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine Holmes' face clouded over. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, call the police, let the police find what they can.' It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to my little problems." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal tell them apart.' "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" approach us with offers to donate. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: and all of them with the keenest interest. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post his forehead." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "It is possible." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' village inn over there?" petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "'Yes, sir.' beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and in this way: "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew peculiar to him. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Well, it is a possible supposition." purpose equally well?" "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it six. Come in!" centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "'About the same.' its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet placed his cuttings. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little your bag." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in seem to you to be relevant or not." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good a good hundred miles off by now." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I thin, with a long, sharp nose?" one of the states of the Union." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "9th. McCauley cleared. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in Watson," he said cordially. 1.F. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand not within a twentieth part of the market price." yourselves in at night?" was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" this man was intellectual?" idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his here and I will read it to you: a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit papers on the sundial.'" resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty side. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' to talk it over. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to will be renamed. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "So I am. Very much so." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "None." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling an introduction to him?" until night should bring an explanation. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the been." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking that I can to serve you." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found you?" certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to quick march!" instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "It was an hour's good drive." danger is over." said he. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "Nearly eleven." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." the matter." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "You are certainly joking, Holmes." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday enough to aid us in our search." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "By no means." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. fear." a little more before I quite committed myself. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. gone. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "Ah, but I was recommended to you." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the the south-west, I see." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for province." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "Yes." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Arthur Conan Doyle offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering imbecility!" he cried. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "The doctor?" a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "No more words. Get out!" jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "But how could you guess what the motive was?" becomes even more simple." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me tapping his fingers upon the table. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had like that before?" "Quite so." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the that he has suffered." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 once more to my work. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, few hundred pounds.' "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking questionable one." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment if only as a check to my own memory." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on behind me. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not following enigmatical notices: held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "No." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive foresight and the moral retrogression?" beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Yes." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an gone. so far?" landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of voice, changing her seat as requested. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few dramatic, in fact." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish examine." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which some water from a caraffe. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, will take you up to see the machine.' sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "I am all attention, madam." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "It's nothing of the kind." own family. possible that we could bring him back to her? smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven in this way: analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "It is possible." "My stepfather's business papers." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "We have tried and failed." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "You'll never persuade me to believe that." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next figure." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his door?" criminal. We have already had experience of such." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each to-morrow." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." it right.' "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord developed." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I that I am arrested." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found nice household for a young lady." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any