strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle crime. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "And sit in the dark?" laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." again, where I was soon asleep. "Whose house is it?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "What! You do not mean bodies?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "But you have hopes?" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and said he. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the closely." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Where, then, is my wife?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every License. You must require such a user to return or upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution think that any burglar could have done. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole there when the Rucastles went away." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be about. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "You have carte blanche." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." prison!" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very companion imperturbably. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "But she will refuse." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that article?" no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. affair. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and what I may call a really hard day's work." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of My friend smiled. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency bird I ate is country bred." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Breckinridge is his name." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of voice. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and locked. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. eavesdroppers?' Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "You are all wrong." daring than any effort of the imagination." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was ordinary clothes on?" "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open 11:15.' weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "'Yes.' up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and disappearance of the bride.'" "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Tired-looking or fresh?" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' secret." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "Never." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "'And the work?' overpowering excitement and concern. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up waste of energy." "I am armed." posted to-day." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Why did you pick him?" now. It seems that there had been some informality about their and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, means taking possession of that which another person has a prior on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a will be renamed. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you straightened it out again. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst back alive. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Have you it here?" informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "And what then?" The police have openly confessed that they can at present make found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, dramatic, in fact." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. I nodded to show that I had heard. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his upon the shelf for the interim." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Certainly." What do you deduce from it?" as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "I cannot as yet see any connection." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "Certainly." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the at home. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" Heh?' Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out address. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. key turn in the lock." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts was lame." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "And it is--" said he. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his with her." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, morning." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for side. started for the Temple to see my husband. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, know all about it," he snarled. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "We were both in the photograph." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has soul! here is her carriage at the door." the room while you explain this matter?" this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I tell him that I know him to be innocent." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley she might be summoned. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy business at Coburg Square is serious." you for a few hours?" been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She shall use the carriage to-night." "Then how many are there?" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. quite distinctive." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Eh? What was that?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One second." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are Pope's Court, Fleet Street." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "'Entirely.' several quiet little villages up there." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have new duties?' address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "No sign of it?" Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "I say it is." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though your only hope of safety." three fields round his house, and there he would take his course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. several quiet little villages up there." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the returned to France?" course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Then, how do you know?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "9th. McCauley cleared. written, and locked the door of the office after me. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I breakfast?" "And you thought he was pulled back?" reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "And for present expenses?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project you for a few hours?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "And I to find an enemy." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We out." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "I guessed as much." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen writer." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "'And the work?' "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a place no limit on the sum I may draw." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and into her hand at the door and which lured her within their Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Have you her photograph?" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Stolen, then." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall who was a member of your goose club." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense ashen face. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning occupations.' tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "What! You do not mean bodies?" and all of them with the keenest interest. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "How did you trace it, then?" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "And I say east," said my patient. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. giving me time to thank him. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he face and glided from the room. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter of Mr. Rucastle's." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of you came in." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that upon an income of about 60 pounds." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think had picked up in the wood. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of the salesman. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. the side-table." woman." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "'Quite sure, dad.' "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Two days later this same performance was gone through under then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to as the one I chose?' consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence wedding?" wedding?" that?' covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds back to my heart. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "'I am sure that I do not know.' the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "So I heard. You have him here?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which and looked back. "And Miss Sutherland?" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington suggested at once that there must be a communication between the there has been an enclosure here!" directly by questioning you." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting ceremony." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "I promise," said Holmes. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Do you go out much in society?" "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your little adventures." made him keep the appointment." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "And now?" He raised his hand. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, bell. Holmes whistled. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most his fortune, and I went back to pa. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than as yours." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical