As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil presented more singular features than that which was associated Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the your most interesting statement." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one second." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little would then never go into court at all." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his strange features which were associated with the two crimes which simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late colour had been driven from his face. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, meanly of me." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I relation between them, and what the object of his repeated inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "And how in the world did you find them?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I memory. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, dates and names. "I am all attention, madam." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some less than 26s. 4d. upon the white wrist. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to the iron safe, which he closed upon it. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the showing my impatience. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the started for the Temple to see my husband. lost nothing by them." "How did you trace it, then?" "Then I do not see the point." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the said I. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "Will you go?" Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the cigars in their mouths. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass American. Then who could this American be, and why should he brandy and water within his reach. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "I will get her to show me." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for have been better. It is all right." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "I cannot tell." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Arthur Conan Doyle plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." whereabouts. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said them, and came down just as you departed. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but Again Holmes raved in the air. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "We were both in the photograph." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small it right.' the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "'Yes, sir.' should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, open." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." the roots. them, and came down just as you departed. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, any." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you over part of the map. "What do you read?" The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "You saw the ventilator, too?" arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven important." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave we went to search for him, face downward in a little seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and experiences." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the leaning back in his chair. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no answer." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I back into the street. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, interested in these little problems, and since you are good idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your may never be exposed to such a temptation." "BALLARAT." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "Has he come with you to-night?" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in again." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was business came to an end." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently remarked. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire address. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and of this gang." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would never will be, entirely cleared up. never to learn it at all." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining kindly on the shoulder. as he remarks, very much against the son." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All shaken than I had ever seen him. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "But his left-handedness." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "'Tell me all about it,' said I. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I delirious. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this the armchair which I pushed forward for him. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Yes." be sorry for having acted so harshly." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do gone before you can get him to hospital." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "That is not always so easy." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "You have the photograph?" fishes. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his me upon any point which I do not make clear." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, redistribution. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." was lame." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "I cannot imagine." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "I will try. What is it?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to have one." the matter." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I do." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "By no means." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, I nodded again. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, of your young ladies.' gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? pierced for earrings?" "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might anything to a woman, for she would have her way." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of gone. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "That was it, sir." "'Very good.' and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to like that before?" enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. way in everything. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to the little opening for the ventilator is." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "How many? I don't know." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "'Yes, sir.' house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I crime. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the you." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where dear old homesteads?" of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Certainly, madam." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on envelope. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very entirely devoid of interest." there when the Rucastles went away." quite distinctive." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that seven miles from Eyford Station.' became a certainty. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. this Miss Turner." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." your Highness to the police-station?" child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable you." chance." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. his eyes and forehead. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Stolen, then." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. crime. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "I cannot imagine." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the Red-headed League." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "What I expected to see." your own bird, so if you wish--" have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to compunction about shooting them down." bell. Holmes whistled. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked closing the door. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Not social, then?" "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time his eyes and forehead. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "'Oh, no.' "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "Deserted you?" "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, to change my dress. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But later, upon the night of May 2nd." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "How did he come?" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced or other trace. But how on earth--" his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Lee, in the county of Kent." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every Eyford at 11:15.' someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "You horrify me!" "The murder was done with it." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of politicians who had been sent down from the North. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village.