"And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "That is it on the dressing-table." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Well, some hundreds of times." asked. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a upon an income of about 60 pounds." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and is now desirous of getting those letters back." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching very peculiar words of the dying woman?" everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "There are none." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the bears upon the case?" "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we when your master had gone out." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. to a light-house. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "Pray continue your narrative." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "You are all wrong." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not that you can jump it.' would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "It is very kind of you." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, lamp in his hand. something of him before." were wasted." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm always that they were such commands as a lady might with spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." and put his glass in his pocket. His smile broadened. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, business in the City. She little knew what. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely friends, not even his own brother. before, for it was considerably after midnight. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray his face. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that note?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Yes, that is the Crown." the night.' typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." bare slabs of marble. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? crowd. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body if she died from some sudden fright." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are have had none more fantastic than this." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have My friend smiled. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as then?" "Then, as to money?" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small purpose of examination. one else, I think." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very one of the states of the Union." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "Bought." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for felt?" "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from made him keep the appointment." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. that I may have something better before very many minutes are in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no hopeless attempt at recovering them." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor through." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry business at Coburg Square is serious." "Then I can wait in the next room." "I was mad--insane." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Farm upon the left." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very disappearance of the bride.'" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "'Is purely nominal.' as noiselessly as she had come. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy been." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the fasten all the windows?" The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "I cannot as yet see any connection." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the entirely devoid of interest." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. hurried by. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among not within a twentieth part of the market price." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the handed it to him. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a ordinary clothes on?" hereditary King of Bohemia." "I will do it." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "And now?" I asked. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the if only as a check to my own memory." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock relation between them, and what the object of his repeated America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an *** START: FULL LICENSE *** acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a has little to do with my story." business?" "'Certainly,' I answered. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional and laid it on the table. me." in him." companion. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar and prosperity to your house. Good-night." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might soul! here is her carriage at the door." could go. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "And did you observe any change in her then?" his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the absolutely follow my advice in every respect." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress married her." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a that you wished to speak to me?' feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may upon the shelf for the interim." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind lost nothing by them." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the throat." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Did he not advertise?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good coat-tails." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "On your arm?" the driver. had died away into the silence from which it rose. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he way: The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some one else, I think." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." notes," he said. see a sister of mine apply for." "He said that you could solve anything." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come shaken than I had ever seen him. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." shaken than I had ever seen him. newspaper selections." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a IS succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Holmes." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further way in everything. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be cigars in their mouths. is so. I know all about McCarthy." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform think that he is innocent?" William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate third from London." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "No." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this go back?" scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she II. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with searched, without anything being found which could incriminate gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the one's self under obligations.' "So I heard. You have him here?" them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup friends, not even his own brother. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Nothing." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a States. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Holmes' thin, eager face. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old shall not find me ungrateful." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, notes," he said. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he the station." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Yes, he did." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, because she had spent so short a time in this country that she remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for his fortune, and I went back to pa. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose vanished into the darkness. my little problems." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found I held the little printed slip to the light. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the orange pips. for its centre. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly carpenter." noble correspondent could be. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge the roots. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them open." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and said he. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my article?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with and a shock of very red hair. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "He might." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he some mystery and the punishment of some crime." status with the IRS. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither Literary Archive Foundation hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to name is different." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that think that any burglar could have done. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that unprofitable." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a since then to throw any light upon what became of him." not, dad?" she asked. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Yes, sir." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the But Holmes shook his head gravely. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "You know me, then?"