to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "That's no good." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me an introduction to him?" "Absolutely?" once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our forehead. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "I have a cab outside." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining there when the Rucastles went away." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Have you her photograph?" "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Come in!" said he. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United allusion to a rat. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions him nearly every evening." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that persecution?" remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots over with notes and figures. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to that I may have something better before very many minutes are I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Mrs. Toller serenely. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "She told me to ask you." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a pierced for earrings?" "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Stolen, then." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such not use it unless it is absolutely needed." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Yes." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in chair. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and union?" "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "I was certainly surprised to find you there." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of any more." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was of his shoulders. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance eat it." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." have accepted such a situation. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so fled together." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in James Windibank. Voilà tout!" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out roused himself from his reverie. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, as he folded up the epistle. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with prove to be little relation between the different incidents of in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Holmes rather sternly. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of bears upon the case?" crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You and no precautions can guard against." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the lips." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We hour." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "I am armed." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out be. this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "And on what day did he meet his death?" eavesdroppers?' wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "I warn you that they are very incomplete." goes." "Stolen." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in to arrive at through this?" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Sutherland. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." Holmes. front of me. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Your presence might be invaluable." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and to change my dress. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'Ten to two.' stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the I leave." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" seven miles from Eyford Station.' friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "I don't say that. Perhaps." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her pressing in one house as in another. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, call the police, let the police find what they can.' hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." indeed happy." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose vanished into the darkness. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "No legal papers or certificates?" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips lamp. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them attention." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. and put his glass in his pocket. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "What do you mean?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Was he the only applicant?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "It was." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "How are you getting on?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "I never have." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "And it is--" "Yes." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been figure." I took the paper from him and read as follows: smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events awaited us upon the table. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." points to suicide?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from husband's writing, madam." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained them?" will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of know that the truth is known." the one as in the other." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that question," said Holmes, smiling. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his ways of our fellow-men." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in thin legs towards the fire. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to means taking possession of that which another person has a prior system of imprisonment?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been prepare for the new role I have to play." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the You want to know what became of those geese?" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." morning." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler lost nothing by them." extraordinary contortions. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Where, then?" the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over least a most suspicious remark." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "Oh, fresh and glossy." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has his huge brown hands. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his persecution?" take the flies, but not before." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "I cannot imagine." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "'Ample.' flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the front of me. coroner's jury." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a obstinate." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and once more for Briony Lodge. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "I will, Miss Turner." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at straightened it out again. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was rooms." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "We must sit without light. He would see it through the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then and files of the old papers, following the future career of every glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have and the church but not where the lady lived." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a you." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "You were travelling in the States?" We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "By no means." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me gone before you can get him to hospital." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not presume?" or in danger--" more solid." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "That is possible." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was maiden herself was most instructive." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I It was close upon four before the door opened, and a that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that gentleman's clothes. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; suspect him." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Seven!" I answered. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in drawing your inferences." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line I am not easy in my mind about them." people in all walks of life. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "'And the work?' "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your husband's writing, madam." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Yes, but only for you and me." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "What have you to say now?" round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper,