the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I indeed which he could not unravel. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next very peculiar words of the dying woman?" heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the these bleak autumnal evenings." "Well, but China?" heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. the little opening for the ventilator is." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. very old mansion. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and to affect your life." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "'In my own bureau.' in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was seen the man in the road." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "'Then let me do so?' property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a the station." Foundation street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "I see many objections to any such theory." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard there has been an enclosure here!" the tragedy. "A greater distance to travel." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the of the way of danger. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. colour had been driven from his face. even of instruction." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "But not more so than I to find you." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be row." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was that before taking the final step I should like to submit the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting never will be, entirely cleared up. with you alone." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out the King without delay." "Very much so." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such it? Did I buy the geese off you?" desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that of his shoulders. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in could gather together that I was able to avert another public "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, again, where I was soon asleep. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had chemical work which was so dear to him. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my details." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with pound a week." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "When did it break out?" would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "No good news?" with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "'Why that?' I asks. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in she might be summoned. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." 1.E.9. whole matter to your consideration." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little carriage. It was a chestnut." "And you can do nothing until then?" dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Leave Paddington by the 11:15." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Not yet." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "Very murderous indeed." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "No. What a strange idea!" just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down green of the new foliage. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My might help us?" Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed you in yours." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My forebodings. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My and it need not interfere very much with one's other train.' in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. events, Mr. Windibank!" taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Eyford at 11:15.' "Stolen, then." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an had this final quarrel? present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." second window is the one that I jumped from." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "I beg pardon." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do acquaintance?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." out of this horrible affair." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "No, distinctly professional." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of begun to whiten, even as mine has." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "It goes to the housekeeper's room." in his hands." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "'Yes, it was gone.' Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the opened the door, and slipped through. this man was intellectual?" "Yes." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of three fields round his house, and there he would take his "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle retorted upon me, and I on you." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not should be so warm over such a trifle." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be out of this horrible affair." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. your equipment. "But to whom?" foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right wedding?" astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it bird of prey. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" writers could invent nothing more crude." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Game for a morning drive?" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "You think that he is dead?" place, I think that there is good ground to think that the my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over at home. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by morning." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Always." works. meanly of me." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the tapping his fingers upon the table. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "How did you trace it, then?" not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass outbreak?" simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "Tired-looking or fresh?" magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have in a very precise fashion." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no the inquest, and which are worth considering." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads have got?" window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' bears upon the case?" exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom cause to be." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle of Mr. Rucastle's." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." is so. I know all about McCarthy." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the very morning of the wedding." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" furiously. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran papers must be those that are destroyed.' The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no again before evening." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. IS clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow will find little credit to be gained out of this case." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and horse could go." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave country, and eventually married, without anyone having a Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside results." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug ordinary clothes on?" said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "And your father? Did you tell him?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "I never have." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my good-night and bustled off upon her way. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "'How far from the body?' coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the it with his own hands." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I and I shall be with you presently." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right the bottom.' When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "But how could you guess what the motive was?" snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his never came back." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." is four-and-twenty." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my and a shock of very red hair. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his was once confined in the cab my mission was practically vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Nearly eleven." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" better in every way that they should make their position a little matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Where did you address your letters, then?" "How do you know, then?" the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who Sholtos." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a and have this put in the evening papers." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Your French gold?" "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Seven!" I answered. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to Mary, has deserted me." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "You don't mind breaking the law?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in