during that time.' "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in depend upon my doing so.' "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very there were one or two details which were new to me. But the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "What I expected to see." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up in darkness. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "I see many objections to any such theory." ways of our fellow-men." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. there has been an enclosure here!" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, During two years I have had three consultations and one small little trying to do so much typewriting?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true you understand?" "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Not social, then?" not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to I am not easy in my mind about them." will he say when he returns?" the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should envelope. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Eh? What was that?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an if only as a check to my own memory." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see train.' "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards are, and they are waiting for us." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming thirty. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his bill, which interests me deeply." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. on re-entering her father's house?" have not had my rubber." "And sit in the dark?" himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "My stepfather's business papers." question," said Holmes, smiling. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. it means?" every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when your room." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does there!' advice." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more dates and names. happened." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the ceiling. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay you." "Bought." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. miles off. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical everything which you would wish to know." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "Witness: Nothing definite. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "I am following you closely," I answered. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, Dr. Gregory B. Newby gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" possible that we could bring him back to her? convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "'And what salary do you ask?' the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be helping a boy to put up the shutters. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which the side-table." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "How did he come?" hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Yes, he did." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "I think that it is very probable." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. may have an influence upon European history." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her morning." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "That is possible." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then laugh and put his lips to my ear. at home. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am roused himself from his reverie. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. Serpentine Avenue. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite fluttered off among the others. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really will find little credit to be gained out of this case." giving me time to thank him. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Have you it here?" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "You have the photograph?" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "I will get her to show me." fatally injured? great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice attention." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal within hail.' The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between was lame." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Very much so." will not take me long to tell. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as to have been novel and of interest." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my coat-tails." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The tightly behind him. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and laid it on the table. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand was once confined in the cab my mission was practically Serpentine Avenue. giving me time to thank him. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and upon a handsome competence. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was directors, with the result that you have seen." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "It is possible." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "'Ten to two.' the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "I am sure." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty the inner apartment." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found suddenly upon us." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Really! You surprise me." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. it were putty." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to III. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? in this note: corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Will you go?" far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Never." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months them?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a himself to hunt down. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a face and glided from the room. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these you." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "But his lameness?" all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place companion quietly. "Certainly." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Yes." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Clair, of Lee." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a reach." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "How do you know, then?" "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "By all means." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "'Yes, sir.' dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that the nursery. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest kindly on the shoulder. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" happened." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and had picked up in the wood. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an friend's singular character. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "My opinion is in no way altered." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his intimate personal affairs in this public manner." fact, we may call it conclusive." "Oh, fresh and glossy." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps do." nothing with him." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss forecastle of an emigrant ship. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to the stable lane now." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "But your client--" "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, of it with the greatest attention. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am be best to do. late." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "'I am sure if I had known--' mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Do you go out much in society?" "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a figure." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. you." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous enough to aid us in our search." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence posted to-day." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, people don't know." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical ordinary clothes on?" having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an room?" upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Yesterday." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Yes." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his how narrow had been my escape. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of paper in the air. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, retorted upon me, and I on you." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain him, that man would not have given me such complete information in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." reach." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in had died away into the silence from which it rose. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it a little more before I quite committed myself. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. comes from the middle window." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "One?" very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper the roots. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Pray do so." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush directors have had misgivings upon the subject." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask your bag." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Did your wife hear all this?" when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, morning." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after companion quietly. beg that you will break it off."