continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up once more on the important position which you have been fortunate opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. persecution?" "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "It's nothing of the kind." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most in his power. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in prove to be little relation between the different incidents of yet." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross cigars in the box." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no was a lad." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman geese which you supplied to the Alpha." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, your co-operation." yards of it?' Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at unprecedented a position." "And why in hopes?" all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon of his shoulders. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. is a common subject for conversation. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in anything to do with the matter?" caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the case-book, which he consulted. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but of the way of danger. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in said I. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "But his lameness?" Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "One of his hands." digesting their breakfasts at home." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "I have solved it." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed depend upon my doing so.' and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from amused." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, as noiselessly as she had come. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. manager. unprofitable." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" as the one I chose?' difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a Does that suggest anything?" "Was your sister dressed?" behind me. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so I was concerned in it." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of time." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would instituted." could not have written that. It is the German who is so ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Very. But will he see it?" "Then, how do you know?" "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes within hail.' the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought questioning and rather startled gaze. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project less than 26s. 4d. following enigmatical notices: least a most suspicious remark." experiences." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich suggested at once that there must be a communication between the dates and names. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. his forehead." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Then you may entirely rely on me." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the soul! here is her carriage at the door." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom residence of the great financier. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Nothing." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through occurred." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "My stepfather's business papers." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Why serious?" "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Frequently." place of silver." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? a monotonous occupation." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. green of the new foliage. one of them." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "I don't say that. Perhaps." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night now. It seems that there had been some informality about their I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Did he not advertise?" her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is companion quietly. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached long narrative. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless always that they were such commands as a lady might with serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "In answer to an advertisement." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime window when the police appeared." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in to-night?" I asked. all?" his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had into the bag, and made for the door. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always secret." "It came here." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near which our visitor detailed to us. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Very much so." the running down." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in gone. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. to change my dress. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred handed it to him. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "'Ten to two.' Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly with you?" We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the extraordinary contortions. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, during which he might have communicated with his friend the Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "That is it on the dressing-table." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Yes, he did." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple you?' He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that with some details as to your case." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "A greater distance to travel." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "But your client--" "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed were new raised from a basin. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project wedding?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a compunction about shooting them down." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some subject to the trademark license, especially commercial to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Look there!" said he. generous with you in money matters.' beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has careless servant girl?" himself. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. bird I ate is country bred." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary as he remarks, very much against the son." residence of the great financier. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said thought that she would have been so carried away." "'Why that?' I asks. "Yes, that is the Crown." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of even so self-evident a thing as that." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "I see no marks." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to depend upon my doing so.' to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under with some details as to your case." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "You horrify me." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in little trying to do so much typewriting?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "I say that I have solved it." "The doctor?" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when considering the formidable letters which were received by himself prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable my room." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "On the contrary, this is the right side." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. before the coroner and the police-court." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent Sutherland?" one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it relief. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. did not hear it also.' "Upon what point?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had a few minutes he said that it would be all right. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the be.' "How many? I don't know." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that it." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will for securing the situation." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "I have my revolver," said I. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more your most interesting statement." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up matter over." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action stepfather?" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Your sister is dead, then?" himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "What?" the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed affection." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "By no means." awaited us upon the table. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "He is still with you, I presume?" "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax guilty one." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was obstinate." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. business came to an end." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "'Ten to two.' call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Do you go out much in society?" premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley observed. you in your example."