the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search it." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "You horrify me!" separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, there in twenty minutes." get her out of the way." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly window when the police appeared." "Dirty?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself breakfast and whispered something to her husband. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary next day. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. woman." "To an end?" Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no on re-entering her father's house?" "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "And your father? Did you tell him?" ago." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must chance at all." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the to a light-house. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. salesman. bled considerably." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" the so-precious time, but come!' long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which client, rising. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly country, and eventually married, without anyone having a always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had I shall communicate with you." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I was it brought him the coronet? "So I have heard." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Why did you pick him?" arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard gbnewby@pglaf.org I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "But I am all in the dark." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture yet." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start people don't know." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' easy-going way." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when derbies." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable unprofitable." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties question you as to those details which seem to me to be most posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work dead, shall be safe with us." wedding?" "Have you her photograph?" contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing an introduction to him?" the armchair which I pushed forward for him. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from instituted." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly than was visible to me." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, fashion which was peculiar to him. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Proceed, then." morning." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and the driver. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Perhaps I have." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "'Where to?' recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried Holmes' face clouded over. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very you do it in twenty minutes!' carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him words came to my lips. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. as he remarks, very much against the son." "'Certainly,' I answered. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. the Assizes." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I me what he had done with the three missing stones. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged during that time.' to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "What have you to say now?" the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said case before our client came into the room." formed some opinion?" "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets me." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "I have come for advice." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the the inner apartment." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought directly by questioning you." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful said I. "You horrify me!" the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy friend's singular character. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of never will be, entirely cleared up. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, undoubtedly my uncle's." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in and have this put in the evening papers." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell public press." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as address. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the voice, changing her seat as requested. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was the night.' ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and respectable self." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "I am sure." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "A call for help, you thought?" seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been disturbance in my wife." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." For additional contact information: Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding know what is wrong with it.' clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Where, indeed?" years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in one's self under obligations.' handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "I have solved it." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "A confidential servant?" he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled your most interesting statement." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence nonsense.' education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, man. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" comes from the middle window." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor the roots. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'Yes, sir.' a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among said I. in one or two places in England?' of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at look upon these things in a different way." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you six. Come in!" used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "Entirely." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other way: and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up several quiet little villages up there." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' off." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of morning." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence thirty. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want upon the shelf for the interim." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "It is a murder, then?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." clang of the bell. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; upon an income of about 60 pounds." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, distinguish the words: "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to pound a week." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low through." "I am in hopes that she does." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "How do you know, then?" father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his never came back." lectures into a series of tales." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy the general public were present, then?" my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. crackling voice. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. results." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the your sleep?' to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "I never have." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "'Is purely nominal.' hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "'Then let me do so?' remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save time." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, During two years I have had three consultations and one small broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of the very morning of the wedding." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands awaited us upon the table. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "'Ample.' fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Witness: I must still refuse. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could acted in my house last night?" whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over is so. I know all about McCarthy." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "And how did you verify them?" shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest at my remark. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Yesterday." "Yes." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive formed some opinion?" with frightened eyes at his accuser. the King without delay." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to hopeless attempt at recovering them." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be some mystery and the punishment of some crime." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never are, I think, all that we need." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when