huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "And did you observe any change in her then?" back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. already been minutely examined." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that have I gained?" sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce present." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most time." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell threw himself down with his face to the pillow. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "In the cells." friend's singular character. other, as fresh and trim as possible. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "'Why that?' I asks. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears all?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. get the tickets." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the walking." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under do you make of it all?" little adventures." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. indeed happy." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your events, Mr. Windibank!" Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a along the entire front of the house, with three long windows a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, she used." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at ready to-morrow?' full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "There is the writing." there!' "And how did you find out?" instituted." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it that you saw all that I did." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. presume?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "Witness: It was. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the interests were the same as his." "Thank you. And your address?" He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of seem to you to be relevant or not." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "He is dead," cried several voices. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. derbies." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day gone. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable and all of them with the keenest interest. unprecedented a position." 1.E.9. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the voice, changing her seat as requested. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as straighten it?" money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, absolutely follow my advice in every respect." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature had formerly been in part my own. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. begun to whiten, even as mine has." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is papers must be those that are destroyed.' "A client, then?" of note-paper. It read in this fashion: and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility companion. "None." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery you came in." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Has he come with you to-night?" kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord nonsense.' "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his ways of our fellow-men." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe the general public were present, then?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "The King of Scandinavia." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Yes, he did." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously have been better. It is all right." "'Entirely.' and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of or in danger--" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "What steps will you take?" I asked. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from examine." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until discontent upon his features. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some for securing the situation." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send sake, don't!" had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she humiliation." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four have one." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "'Yes, sir.' "And you can do nothing until then?" deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "You think so, too?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between delighted to hear it," he said. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Were they all fastened this morning?" certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than his cane at the bell-pull. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. purpose of examination. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Cross for the Continent." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with was not a bird to be seen there. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "No, I had a dozen." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, Holmes." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like whole matter to your consideration." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders go back?" old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable have one." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Yes." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a any." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I it." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window whole matter to your consideration." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some I shall communicate with you." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was think you a quite exceptional woman." would apply.' to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for Sholtos." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss in darkness. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "And your father? Did you tell him?" very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" and put his glass in his pocket. together. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "I would pay ten." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really one else, I think." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." Holmes rather sternly. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest cause to be." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "And I say east," said my patient. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two the bed, and you in that chair." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the Eyford." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and joking. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be there in twenty minutes." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "No more words. Get out!" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his bears upon the case?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any would apply.' the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect weary and pale-looking. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER system of imprisonment?" "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to this remarkable episode. "None. Neville wrote those words." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between as he folded up the epistle. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with acted in my house last night?" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" me what he had done with the three missing stones. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' he bowed and left the room without another word. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "Then how many are there?" robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate which it had come upon my father." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the already referred to. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "May I see it?" every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' him to be an active member of the medical profession." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such o'clock is it?" this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little and effective." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then when you have done it." cigar and let me expound." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "'And what salary do you ask?' previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and rooms." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Quite so." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one unkempt, staring out at me. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "And it is--" "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism which it had come upon my father." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. laugh and put his lips to my ear. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical stammered. Project Gutenberg-tm works. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "You horrify me!" "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the fashion which was peculiar to him. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite newspaper selections." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "She will not sell." his wife has ceased to love him." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must beyond words. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way she might be summoned. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a main points of my analysis." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social to affect your life." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may