sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." examine." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "But I am all in the dark." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my shall use the carriage to-night." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each some terrible trap for her." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "'Is purely nominal.' "Do you know him?" it right.' occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not think, you have already met." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the round and wave him away like that.' him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any in his hands." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? never came back." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought him, that man would not have given me such complete information on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished window when the police appeared." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were vault. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. address. papers must be those that are destroyed.' prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting that you wished to speak to me?' prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "That is easily got." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before promised to bring home. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet round and wave him away like that.' last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "ARAT," I read. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Yes, the wine-cellar." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand woven round him. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, events than those which have happened in my own family." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "A thing like a cleaver," said he. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Well, it is a possible supposition." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook here and I will read it to you: "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of asked with his eyes open. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon burst into a hearty fit of laughter. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "In answer to an advertisement." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and least a fellow-countryman. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "So it appears." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Can I be of assistance?" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Upon what point?" profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at down from London to inquire more deeply into it." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. business in the City. She little knew what. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst ourselves in the office." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when Holmes rather sternly. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. new duties?' elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each telegram would bring me down to your help." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, the coroner come to?" from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "The gentleman I describe." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door Mrs. Toller serenely. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "I never have." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of again on its way. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Dirty?" "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and This is what he says: instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Yes." him. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just than was visible to me." Pope's Court. detained." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy outbreak?" fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, breakfast." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. into the room. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "You horrify me!" "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "One?" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a writing, and yet I know it well." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. any more." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "That also I could fathom." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home sneer upon his pale face. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white confronted him. "And your father? Did you tell him?" "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. entirely devoid of interest." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for DAMAGE. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for already referred to. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows heavily into it. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a and prosperity to your house. Good-night." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my McCarthy's innocence. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "But to whom?" "Certainly." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. stammered. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "No, my brougham is waiting." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. present." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to shall use the carriage to-night." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door recall any case within my experience which looked at the first said he. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "I fear not." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to the stones. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me off." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed until night should bring an explanation. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon mystery!" wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a the inner apartment." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the should be taken.' "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Then, how do you know?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible situation." "I beg pardon." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an to a more successful conclusion." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "How long did she speak to this Alice?" hour?' "Very. But will he see it?" this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can despaired of." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It delighted to hear it," he said. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. not come at once?" to-night?' eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very as noiselessly as she had come. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "None. Neville wrote those words." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I of the one which your family is now devouring." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps introspective fashion. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet electronic works of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, vault. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Which are?" that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "His face fell immediately. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his woman who has had her own way to make in the world. the dangers which encompass me." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your present." "Thank you. Pray proceed." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" in this note: charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before way in." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect any more." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the an introduction to him?" opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with placed his cuttings. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." tension within him. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared drawing your inferences." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Which are?" him and tried to hold him back. "Who by?" mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted there when the Rucastles went away." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Proceed, then." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes like that before?" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She people don't know." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only money should be paid at once.' chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may within hail.' house for five minutes.' "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "I will do it." gentleman's clothes. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of