"Whose house is it?" by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom as yours." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, could go. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "She told me to ask you." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Did you observe the colour?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom three of the beryls in it, was missing. "I will get her to show me." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her will take you up to see the machine.' "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "It is to him that this trophy belongs." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "'What, the red-headed man?' "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Perhaps I have." yet." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant know all about it," he snarled. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five acquaintance?" him. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I The summons was a brief and urgent one. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "At half-wages, in fact." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "It is possible." "You have carte blanche." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "But the mystery?" it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "'I am sure if I had known--' "Why, what do you mean?" "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "There are none." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the you give your casting vote to?" Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my case before our client came into the room." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after more terrible than the truth. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "It goes to the housekeeper's room." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot footfalls from the street. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers http://gutenberg.net/license). he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. occupations.' "Precisely." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are are windows in it, of course?" "Eh? What was that?" hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Imitated." answer." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. and looked back. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of records." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at weapon." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my was it brought him the coronet? cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in answer." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "I see no marks." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Of what day?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "'Stolen!' he cried. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "I am armed." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Always." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of Farm upon the left." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary wedding?" man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, must compliment you." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may asked with his eyes open. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Come in!" said he. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the of this gang." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "I promise," said Holmes. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure call the police, let the police find what they can.' human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual information in his hands the value of which he did not himself Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those to some other building. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "I was certainly surprised to find you there." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Cross for the Continent." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her chance at all." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to row." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently ways of our fellow-men." an introduction to him?" "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "The Cedars?" ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "None." pictures, libraries, or plate. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion stalked out of the room. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback always that they were such commands as a lady might with which was all perfectly true. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and new acquaintance to Baker Street. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three fuss that is made over them." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug him to go away.' still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry attention." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "But how?" nonsense.' "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, to tell." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa very peculiar words of the dying woman?" rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed dramatic, in fact." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be hands. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "How long did she speak to this Alice?" even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "'Why that?' I asks. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would open." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by to me. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I frequently gained my first real insight into the character of typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would copied or distributed: "I shall be delighted." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "On the contrary, this is the right side." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I people don't know." "Your presence might be invaluable." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's as yours." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left to his chemical studies. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "That was it, sir." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my McCarthy's innocence. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do mysterious end." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "The best possible." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the will not take me long to tell. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Come in!" said he. taking in every detail of the apartment. is," said he presently: imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman you." husband's writing, madam." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "'I am sure if I had known--' opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, the running down." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "To an English lawyer named Norton." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would John Swain, of St. Augustine. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Two days later this same performance was gone through under or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Holmes." have got?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And notes," he said. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Breckinridge is his name." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Where, then?" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at Mrs. Toller serenely. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a empty. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "She told me to ask you." "No legal papers or certificates?" the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as weighed down with some great anxiety. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with salesman. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the congratulate you again." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. six. Come in!" in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar could go. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. out." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "What steps will you take?" I asked. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into your own bird, so if you wish--" however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "And you don't know his address?" memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the