"It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "'I have already given you my word.' young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit my little problems." Street. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the some city in a dream. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "'What are you doing there?' he asked. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was sneer upon his pale face. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "What!" he roared. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Do you know him?" corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary the roots. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular occupations.' Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded Eyford." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed photograph?" telegram would bring me down to your help." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." horse could go." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Nothing?" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten said he. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are society." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity the ceiling. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were bearing upon the case." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be which should have the effect of calling the attention of the and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "And on what day did he meet his death?" which we had just quitted. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers speckled band?" the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third nonsense.' on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others depend upon my doing so.' saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "Then the page we have seen--" The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Texas, I think." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom gone. out." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, details." "Pray do so." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an standing smiling on the door-step. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." existence." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become me. You must get home instantly and act." dates and names. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "It came here." something of him before." "No bad?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only something of him before." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly pictures, libraries, or plate. best detective that ever lived. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "And Miss Sutherland?" a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried hard-headed British jury." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the row." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she During two years I have had three consultations and one small "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and in one or two places in England?' slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Yes." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Who by?" better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "But you were on a friendly footing?" in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found gives a meaning to it." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well more solid." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "That is easily got." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the felt the room to be a little close.' "'Stolen!' he cried. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See enter into my head. "It is his hat." letters?" window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Yes. He waved his hands." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. had this final quarrel? laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. drawing your inferences." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "An accident, I presume?" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any Project Gutenberg-tm works. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, clang of the bell. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "You'll never persuade me to believe that." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more married her." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "'Most admirably.' than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it means taking possession of that which another person has a prior with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "Who was the criminal, then?" that?' "I am in hopes that she does." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Yes." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting side. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "In the cells." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Never to return." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to I shall continue with my miserable story. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Ten will be early enough." "The vanishing of the lady." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would hereditary King of Bohemia." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "How are you getting on?" investigation." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "I cannot tell." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." mysterious end." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would appeared upon the scene." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is out of this horrible affair." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Who was the criminal, then?" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "And now?" He raised his hand. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, foresight and the moral retrogression?" and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "I fear not." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a the coronet at all injured?" invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and like that before?" her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I this remarkable episode. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "That is unusual in a young girl." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "But we can't all be." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Always." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Indeed! Whose, then?" and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to hand, madam?" "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, McCarthy's innocence. he. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable little adventures." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will at my remark. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "I cannot as yet see any connection." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "A confidential servant?" has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour Street. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking meant." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. fashion which was peculiar to him. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such girl said." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder may never be exposed to such a temptation." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon questionable one." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "A client, then?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every amused." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been John Swain, of St. Augustine. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began himself to tell his story. friends, not even his own brother. "'Certainly,' I answered. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the the driver. galvanised. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a one's self under obligations.' Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. is four-and-twenty." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "What will you do, then?" "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a there." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Nor running a chance of arrest?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "How can you tell that?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Really! You surprise me." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Has he come with you to-night?" "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and His name is Francis Prosper." better in every way that they should make their position a little of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "That's no good." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Miss Holder?" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was