There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, security.' stood on the top of it. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "And help." been with you?" "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw What do you deduce from it?" go from here to the Strand." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country chambers. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how that he has suffered." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have gentleman's clothes. roused himself from his reverie. undoubtedly my uncle's." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "What, then?" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I evidence," I remarked. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an upon the shelf for the interim." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's good-night and bustled off upon her way. comes from the middle window." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Entirely." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Pope's Court. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Well, but China?" serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some carried out of court." have not had my rubber." yet." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "What will you do, then?" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "And your mother is alive?" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet populous neighbourhood." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of throat." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back IS from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or Where does the thing come from?' on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands strength of mind to control. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "'I have heard so.' from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, room. 1.E.9. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to It may be so in this case, also." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is before the coroner and the police-court." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's been anything against him. He had for years been known as a We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and purpose of examination. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "And your mother is alive?" "'Yes, it was gone.' have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the presume?" door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that meanly of me." "Thank you. Pray proceed." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." mysterious end." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly *** START: FULL LICENSE *** found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, security.' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had the salesman. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes excitement. "Where did you address your letters, then?" fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one locked." villagers almost as much as their master. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Bought." the night.' is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a future lives." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as was feeling which was the fattest.' bird I ate is country bred." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the questionable one." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall some water from a caraffe. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my we went to search for him, face downward in a little "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was his forehead." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me acted in my house last night?" destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the upon a handsome competence. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into address. I think that I could be of assistance to you." be sorry for having acted so harshly." it." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Well." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "That is also quite modern," said the lady. eavesdroppers?' "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "But what is it you wish?" husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and friends, not even his own brother. wall." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, have established a very serious case against the son of the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial conceal it?" his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of photograph?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you showing my impatience. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." gone. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my child?' have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of question. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." to arrive at through this?" wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "What do you make of that, Watson?" way in." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you and that he would see to anything that turned up. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I existence." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope the Assizes." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "'I shall certainly be there.' "She told me to ask you." the inner apartment." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in his knees, staring into the fire. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which house for five minutes.' both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael at home. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' upon the sideboard." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "How are you getting on?" professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "'Ten to two.' Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and of this gang." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray hardly wander." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place a room. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "In what way?" asked Holmes. then?" when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, within hail.' himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he tell them apart.' take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my the inquest, and which are worth considering." vault. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should closely." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "But how?" "Yes, I have one waiting." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought used to be." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look fasten all the windows?" everything which you would wish to know." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "From his hat?" "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "'Yes, sir.' in my life." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "He said that you could solve anything." are, and they are waiting for us." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Why? What do you mean?" I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. coat-tails." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are my friend's incisive reasoning. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in washing it down with a long draught of water. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "'You doubt its value?' he asked. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which where we are going." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest present." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking fashion which was peculiar to him. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and seven miles from Eyford Station.' that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "I will, Miss Turner." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, quickly through a disagreeable task. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Nearly eleven." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "'I am sure that I do not know.' "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "Was your sister dressed?" fat-encircled eyes. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "It's nothing of the kind." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three character. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Doctor, of the paper and the date." interests were the same as his." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "What then?" "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest back to my heart. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "Why serious?" "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from DISSOLVED. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Get out!" said he. "Has he come with you to-night?" "He is dead," cried several voices. "But I have heard all that you have heard." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 vanished into the darkness. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Nothing." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "I am about to be married." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall directors have had misgivings upon the subject." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "But you have hopes?" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your placed his cuttings. "Who was the criminal, then?" "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a colour had been driven from his face. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I