keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a leave you to your papers for a little." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. back to my heart. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, Stoke Moran." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he might help us?" arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "I know where it is." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was are, and they are waiting for us." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "In what way?" asked Holmes. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, conduct the inquiry." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Yes." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin death." here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out papers must be those that are destroyed.' interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "But his lameness?" pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way more terrible than the truth. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was closely." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while the ceiling. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in closely." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "But to whom?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "I am sure." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "The doctor?" would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I was used.' springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to I think that I could be of assistance to you." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "You think that he is dead?" depend upon my doing so.' silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the murdered man." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., envelope. "Oh, yes, easily." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a as yours." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the there when the Rucastles went away." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred matter." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me absorbing." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Then I can wait in the next room." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my at once, for I have only half an hour." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, extraordinary contortions. these bleak autumnal evenings." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Only as much as we can deduce." house for five minutes.' "Why, what do you mean?" "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently infinite languor in his face. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, crowd. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to that I can to serve you." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "And why in hopes?" "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. became a certainty. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "But his lameness?" "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I flock.' common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. comes from the middle window." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm father's place of business?" a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Yes, at the mines." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped business." companion imperturbably. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom be best to do. death." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "My dear Holmes!" it. "That's no good." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for suggested at once that there must be a communication between the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "And what did you see?" - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so fattened it expressly for you.' despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain highly," said Holmes. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," tell them apart.' "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of he. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Munro.' hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Eyford at 11:15.' Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. you do it in twenty minutes!' of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence most interesting one." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Pray continue your narrative." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Foundation stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "The knees of his trousers." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are as noiselessly as she had come. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then letters?" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Very truly yours, seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Texas, I think." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which results." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call and I shall be with you presently." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the I held the little printed slip to the light. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold was used.' considering the formidable letters which were received by himself he bowed and left the room without another word. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business wedding?" to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic that I may have something better before very many minutes are so.' derbies." felt?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "But what will you do?" have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "I am to be neutral?" "Witness: I must still refuse. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "My opinion is in no way altered." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Yes." before the coroner and the police-court." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight and have this put in the evening papers." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Yes." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. woven round him. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "'And what are they worth?' I asked. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. the Red-headed League." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each You want to know what became of those geese?" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there weighed down with some great anxiety. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped indiscretion." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit main points of my analysis." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the cigar and let me expound." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." conceal it?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a a suggestive one." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "What then?" companion quietly. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "What will you say?" "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, help us in this matter." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the careless servant girl?" just ask you whether you had heard it.' how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." I have it here in my museum." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the more terrible than the truth. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very is," said he presently: "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of wall." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old of Mr. Rucastle's." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "The King of Scandinavia." "I should like to see him very much." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train occurred." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "What! Had he lost his wife?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass that there was nothing in it, after all." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, miles off. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Oh, fresh and glossy." "We were both in the photograph." "What have you to say now?" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love it." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the II. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Yes, only one." he. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman back to my heart. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "We must have a cab." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and your billet.' then?" case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. it. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been ourselves in the office." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in My friend smiled. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and