struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes the Friday. Was it to be in church?" the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east all that?" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal them, and came down just as you departed. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not grasp, he hurried from the room. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "What can it mean?" I gasped. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "Well, but China?" there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a seen the man in the road." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we held up the lantern and gazed about him. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "But how?" over here." "'Yes, sir.' us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the late!' "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "It is his hat." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "But I am all in the dark." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary notes," he said. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the is four-and-twenty." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "He said too much." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were the one as in the other." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your may never be exposed to such a temptation." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were night.' said he. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "At the wedding breakfast." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "And what did you see?" while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable to me. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her bedroom door." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into The King stared at him in amazement. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen system of imprisonment?" open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "That is easily got." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging footfalls from the street. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found again, where I was soon asleep. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from outsides of the windows. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Where is it, then?" connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "What office?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If forbidden door. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled directors, with the result that you have seen." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and II. photograph?" within hail.' "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your get the tickets." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "And that is--" which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his been with you?" "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch out." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. upon the sideboard." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "'Entirely.' success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a lumber-room." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "No." into the bag, and made for the door. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon out of this horrible affair." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were occupations.' "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Yes." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "The knees of his trousers." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting comes from the middle window." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "'It is locked up,' I answered. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making public press." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "And who is her maid?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how a good hundred miles off by now." morning." "So I heard. You have him here?" "That is it on the dressing-table." arrested. You then--" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the The summons was a brief and urgent one. happened." strength in the others." the coroner come to?" lamp. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about papers." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, as noiselessly as she had come. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you geese which you supplied to the Alpha." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and as the one I chose?' the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on take the flies, but not before." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my cheerful." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "But how could you guess what the motive was?" sneer upon his pale face. "And how in the world did you find them?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. events, Mr. Windibank!" The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "This concluded the examination of the witness." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "But you can know nothing of this?" "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. his huge brown hands. seen the man in the road." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were Does that suggest anything?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of foresight and the moral retrogression?" note?" bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue stammered. "That you are never beaten." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his which was all perfectly true. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Ah!" the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "How are you getting on?" "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in morning." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be girl said." "It's nothing of the kind." not, dad?" she asked. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. served to weaken the effect. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in companion quietly. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the me where it went to?" Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning habit of advancing money.' "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an the nursery. "Yes, all." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and answer." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the walking." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "How many? I don't know." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a she used." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "And the cigar-holder?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. name is different." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "What! a murderous attack?" been." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never acted in my house last night?" Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he business in the City. She little knew what. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that villagers almost as much as their master. definite end. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the hurried away. "And did you observe any change in her then?" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that once more to my work. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in hard-headed British jury." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There beg that you will break it off." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the disturbance in my wife." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "'And the work?' I leave." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE to go into your room and bar your shutters?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Quite so." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which assist you in forming an opinion." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is bill, which interests me deeply." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Can I be of assistance?" course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and him to be an active member of the medical profession." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual such person." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "I have a cab outside." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Street. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" good-night and bustled off upon her way. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at roused himself from his reverie. "'And the work?' "Ha! you find it so?" furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "But you were on a friendly footing?" to a light-house. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "I am armed." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant the child." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train