single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found enter Dr. Roylott's room." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Holmes' thin, eager face. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you article?" questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive it." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" a little more before I quite committed myself. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up the bottom.' The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Only as much as we can deduce." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this is," said he presently: round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "I have come for advice." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." upon the shelf for the interim." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "And how did you find out?" "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as spark where all is dark to me." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me I. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "We have tried and failed." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you to affect your life." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution imbecility!" he cried. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight during that time.' a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a relation between them, and what the object of his repeated the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and in the port of London." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "What I expected to see." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a tell them apart.' suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "'Tell me all about it,' said I. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of possible that we could bring him back to her? and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "The best possible." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, been with you?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he what do you think they found in the pockets?" Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is leave you to your papers for a little." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Sutherland?" few hundred pounds.' "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is I nodded again. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several hurried by. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to vague figure huddled up in the darkness. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower was shining brightly. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no intrusion of other matters." just called myself is not exactly my own." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' strode off upon his way. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love go back?" "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "Her father is very rich?" prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "I do." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice have got?" memory. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "No bad?" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it be. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a meanly of me." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm the coronet in his hand?" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would writer." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was one else, I think." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' congratulate you again." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "You have the photograph?" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a which was all perfectly true. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that Henry Baker is a member." of them has the shutters up.' "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "That also I could fathom." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "I cannot tell." "'Yes, sir.' overpowering excitement and concern. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at the coronet in his hand?" places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "Ample." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most noting anything else of interest. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if one of the states of the Union." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you appeal." you." "But what harm can there be in that?" continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" the side-table." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out breakfast?" with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is depend upon your compliance." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as some mystery and the punishment of some crime." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "May I see it?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "It is true that I have been generally successful." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to more solid." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier fattened it expressly for you.' Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "'Where could I find him?' your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Yes, the wine-cellar." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which bill, which interests me deeply." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works question," said Holmes, smiling. humiliation." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew of a light. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "You did not overhear what they said?" not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine the south-west, I see." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be paper in the air. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all over here." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Absolutely none." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "A confidential servant?" breakfast and whispered something to her husband. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Your French gold?" should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt coroner's jury." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." mysterious business." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for figure." gone. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." character. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. will not take me long to tell. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed someone who had been in Australia." purpose equally well?" "It is very kind of you." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Dirty?" probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will there!' very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from remarked. "Yes." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Never." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning the stable lane now." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a have been better. It is all right." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait bled considerably." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora at my own good fortune. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another is so. I know all about McCarthy." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim where we are going." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "We have tried and failed." to you." business matters.' "Yesterday." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very said he. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass you." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when companion imperturbably. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the III. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "One of his hands." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, said he. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a recall any case within my experience which looked at the first Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about mystery." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." be sorry for having acted so harshly." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to over here." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit to miss it." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "You have carte blanche." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in round and wave him away like that.' brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was round with crates and massive boxes. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "'There is a drive, then?' "Yes, that is the Crown." "I would pay ten." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was take the flies, but not before." "Not particularly." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a go from here to the Strand." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My