Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His awaited us upon the table. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes delirious. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then colour had been driven from his face. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had formed some opinion?" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. charge against him will break down." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "'About the same.' Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Yes, all." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "You have compromised yourself seriously." "'You cannot say what it was?' time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique for securing the situation." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Have you good authority for what you say?" nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "On your arm?" shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." of a light. seen the man in the road." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel he bowed and left the room without another word. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall province." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view enough to aid us in our search." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Could he throw no light?" even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before awkward doing business with an alias." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "I was mad--insane." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm miles off. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "I say that I have solved it." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a the Assizes." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch Dr. Gregory B. Newby the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "You did not overhear what they said?" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "And how did you verify them?" hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Nothing." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt and it need not interfere very much with one's other parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this into the bag, and made for the door. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open outside." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Pray be precise as to details," said he. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought in darkness. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. salesman. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "My dear Holmes!" knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here golden eyeglasses. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." followed. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, http://gutenberg.net/license). returned to France?" "'Then let me do so?' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." face and glided from the room. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have to have been novel and of interest." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "A client, then?" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "I cannot as yet see any connection." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "What steps will you take?" I asked. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last heavily into it. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Well?" only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself entirely devoid of interest." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to the bed, and you in that chair." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." pictures, libraries, or plate. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the see me here to avoid scandal." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "I say that I have solved it." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Then I do not see the point." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "You think that he is dead?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for Again Holmes raved in the air. to miss it." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for it." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes is four-and-twenty." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All would apply.' "It is very clear." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Imitated." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the was a loud and authoritative tap. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Certainly, madam." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some My friend smiled. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as be best to do. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Yes." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "Then you may be so with me." felt?" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Nearly eleven." breakfast?" "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of into the bag, and made for the door. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and sofa. This way, please!" Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "And that is--" explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the to you." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. cheerful." "Your French gold?" the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Indeed! Whose, then?" you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may not, dad?" she asked. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. you give your casting vote to?" this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Was your sister dressed?" "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the what I may call a really hard day's work." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "At what time?" "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see maid will bring up your coffee." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "What will you say?" "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away room?" central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "'About the same.' have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may you?' of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he bare slabs of marble. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, arms and began to sob in a high treble key. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of of campaign. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his said I. do.' his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, golden eyeglasses. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the This is what he says: reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "'I have heard so.' such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has meanly of me." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. crackling voice. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all point our research must commence, and we will begin it by my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Then I am your man." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." hands. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always waste of energy." "To an end?" of the vacancies.' "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of a monotonous occupation." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with made him keep the appointment." Heh?' "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "It is very kind of you." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in you for a few hours?" moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it better grown goose." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining What do you deduce from it?" league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out your most interesting statement." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "I am in hopes that she does." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp eat it." public press." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "And on what day did he meet his death?" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own papers on the sundial.'" round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" populous neighbourhood." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. how narrow had been my escape. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that hour." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go relation between them, and what the object of his repeated eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "That sounds a little paradoxical." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" who was a member of your goose club." developed." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is matter over." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "My Mary? Impossible!" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church way in everything. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Did your wife hear all this?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Murdered?" printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Not I." spare." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp made him keep the appointment." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, that I may have something better before very many minutes are doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and