read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a maiden herself was most instructive." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves stood on the top of it. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises noble correspondent could be. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Not social, then?" smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back with you?" south, for the country is more deserted there." detective. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To excitement. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow or other trace. But how on earth--" "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that him to go away.' "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "The murder was done with it." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "Perhaps we may make them less so." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would pierced for earrings?" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come once more for Briony Lodge. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" the salesman. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name notes," he said. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate round with crates and massive boxes. stammered. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "I am all attention, madam." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "'As governess?' reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after village inn over there?" asked. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "The vanishing of the lady." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to my little problems." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Witness: It was. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, you." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "What office?" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men the bed, and you in that chair." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. joking. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Eyford." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "'Certainly,' I answered. "'Ample.' through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the the coroner come to?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar Holmes' face clouded over. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "I fear not." "I will, Miss Turner." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "No, but the enclosure is." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of crime. father's place of business?" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was digesting their breakfasts at home." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some on re-entering her father's house?" downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you less than 26s. 4d. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be of the one which your family is now devouring." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was morning." past. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Street. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Then I do not see the point." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should man. I know him from the photograph." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." father's place of business?" weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her have an American origin." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Yes, it would be as well." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the States. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very that?' greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I conversation I have gathered that they have been married about there were so many in the whole country as were brought together adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my right! Sit down and let us talk it over." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "It certainly sounds feasible." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go had this final quarrel? DISSOLVED. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I 'I should be able to look after that for you.' had no one to advise her at such a crisis." cheerful." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our pictures, libraries, or plate. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "Well." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see several quiet little villages up there." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Was the window open?" liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in me what he had done with the three missing stones. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "And what did you see?" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with of Mr. Rucastle's." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our strong reason behind." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith whatever might befall. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his said I. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. are, and they are waiting for us." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, Edgeware Road. would apply.' you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the death." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one desk. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. morning." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "That is not always so easy." nice household for a young lady." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after use an arc-and-compass breastpin." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the you give your casting vote to?" has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "How many? I don't know." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had chance at all." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "I know where it is." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which arrangements." "About a month then." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "It surprised me." "Ten will be early enough." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good you." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no plantation.' roused himself from his reverie. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Very murderous indeed." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our remarked. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." must be when I saw the door open.' precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Precisely." "It's nothing of the kind." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. attention." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of was already answered. guilty parties." kindly on the shoulder. "How did you trace it, then?" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "It was an hour's good drive." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "The doctor?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the noting anything else of interest. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what because she had spent so short a time in this country that she once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "I will, Miss Turner." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to unprofitable." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was opened the door, and slipped through. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" standing smiling on the door-step. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have became a certainty. "Just look it up, then." "Yes, only one." the station." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell national property. I was determined that the law should have its be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as anything to do with the matter?" their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while cost them two and thirty pounds." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the he bowed and left the room without another word. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle beyond words. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other upon a handsome competence. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no furiously. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at would then never go into court at all." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. his face. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or business." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Witness: It was. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and if I call to-morrow?" "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "But what will you do?" 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and walking." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were outsides of the windows. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "No." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Was there a secret marriage?" and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a lamp. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and placed his cuttings. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Come in!" said Holmes. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have subject to the trademark license, especially commercial electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "My own seal." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have dead, shall be safe with us." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to society." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally particular state visit http://pglaf.org "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" 'please.'" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "Why, what do you mean?" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Very. But will he see it?" with frightened eyes at his accuser. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "The vanishing of the lady." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "What can you not understand?" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and writing, and yet I know it well." "I answered that I had not. and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours pity, because in other respects you would really have done very The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Why did you pick him?" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice his face. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "Yes, sir." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan and the church but not where the lady lived." in the hope of finding them." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a looking up at the numbers of the houses." "'I am sure if I had known--' my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "Was she in good spirits?" lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it where we are going." would then never go into court at all." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, them present such singular features as the strange train of was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, she used." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, this as likely?" engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged