minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This the bottom.' the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son galvanised. "Then I can wait in the next room." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." to tell." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent and capable of preserving a secret.' The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "I will do it." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "Yes." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left of campaign. very old mansion. away into the river." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "My own seal." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "That was it, sir." which was all perfectly true. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Absolutely none." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Then he might have called to you?" chill to my heart. it right.' would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years strode off upon his way. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "Precisely." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished tell me that you intended to go into harness." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, seem to you to be relevant or not." It may be so in this case, also." "What is it, then--a fire?" houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "I see many objections to any such theory." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "A client, then?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another where Mr. Fordham shows you.' them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "How long did she speak to this Alice?" pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "None." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to carried out of court." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "It is very clear." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The have an American origin." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. your troubles." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "'Yes, I promise.' original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent later, upon the night of May 2nd." Again Holmes raved in the air. shoulder. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew danger is over." thin legs towards the fire. if only as a check to my own memory." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady done what I asked you, Jones?" reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty next day. "But how?" completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "And what did you learn from him?" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, companion imperturbably. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Well, but China?" both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son drove away. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was fattened it expressly for you.' expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "'Certainly not.' at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days miles off. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that The telegram which we eventually received came late one night off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that drove away. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, late." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the exactly what you advise." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting question you as to those details which seem to me to be most anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." and glanced through. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while chambers. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "And Miss Sutherland?" "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as said he at last. "If so, much may have happened between." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My said I. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' said I. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "I have my revolver," said I. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the distinguish the words: As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have of his shoulders. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left him to be an active member of the medical profession." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." helping a boy to put up the shutters. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my that?' "Then I do not see the point." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "No." address. Lee, in the county of Kent." a very grave face. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Your sister is dead, then?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Why, it's a dummy," said he. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more feature." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story second window is the one that I jumped from." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." written, and locked the door of the office after me. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "'Most admirably.' upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an remarked. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "The gentleman I describe." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Pope's Court. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be test if we have an answer to our advertisement." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own acquaintance?" the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were matter." "You are all wrong." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with seem to you to be relevant or not." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the in my life." giving me time to thank him. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the III. not fit the lock." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "'Quite sure, dad.' "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp everything which you would wish to know." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment followed. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Watson," he said cordially. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of now. It seems that there had been some informality about their cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door the loss of it. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he burst into a hearty fit of laughter. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper it. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Nothing?" seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. to me. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of for securing the situation." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put companion. I nodded to show that I had heard. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence open." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is generous with you in money matters.' of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "What can you not understand?" I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and sit on the left-hand side of the driver." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must late." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "'You doubt its value?' he asked. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "No." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He shaken than I had ever seen him. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end what I may call a really hard day's work." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "I will, Miss Turner." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have arrangements." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own evidence," I remarked. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "I should be immensely obliged to you." "I have come for advice." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. writer." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by Lestrade of Scotland Yard." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine gives a meaning to it." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "'Certainly not. But why?' and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "I should wish to." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "Well, it is a possible supposition." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. spare." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "How do you know, then?" "I will try. What is it?" garden below. make me his representative both with the servants and with the hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Quite so. She has her freedom." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the know all about it," he snarled. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. furiously. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "'Where to?' "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "No, distinctly professional." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the nothing of it?" outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close invisible to me," I remarked. "He is still with you, I presume?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "It's nothing of the kind." signal between you and your father? IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB been deceived." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. highroad, where all traces were lost. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was and a shock of very red hair. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of Farm upon the left." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he You want to know what became of those geese?" "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works to some other building. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial most interesting one." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "This photograph!" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' Eyford." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say,