"But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I weapon." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning during that time.' she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the too. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me that he will be back before evening." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've that I may have something better before very many minutes are lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "'Yes, sir.' over with notes and figures. father's young wife. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, I have it here in my museum." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I that you wished to speak to me?' intimate personal affairs in this public manner." detective. with you?" very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "What then?" 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. carriage. It was a chestnut." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Certainly." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your girl said." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and passage and a tap at the door. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "This concluded the examination of the witness." waste of energy." have got?" his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & companion imperturbably. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "Well?" "The Cedars?" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, should be taken.' back alive. promised to bring home. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "'I have already given you my word.' I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known room. in his power. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving some water from a caraffe. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' out." "VIOLET HUNTER." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! conceal it?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "Perhaps I have." dates and names. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "Nothing?" to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar there." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "We must have a cab." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with minor matters until to-morrow." "Never to return." directly by questioning you." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. I nodded again. to a more successful conclusion." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "And I." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Not social, then?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "'Certainly not.' wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards to-night?' and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are see a sister of mine apply for." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. one's self under obligations.' "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his clang of the bell. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was to have that photograph." "Yes." "Yes." sparkled upon his finger. carriage. It was a chestnut." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "I am to be neutral?" the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may could gather together that I was able to avert another public Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "I see many objections to any such theory." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided Surrey." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there thirty. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "Yes." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" were wasted." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "What! Had he lost his wife?" politicians who had been sent down from the North. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he business matters.' side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before the address that was given us in the advertisement. head. So long, then!" destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much and effective." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a events than those which have happened in my own family." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "To an English lawyer named Norton." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "'A dozen yards or so.' as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "That is also quite modern," said the lady. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "What, then, did Peterson do?" "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black down from London to inquire more deeply into it." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I humiliation." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "Quite so." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is writing, and yet I know it well." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." photograph a cabinet?" "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "To an end?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Of what?" "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil and inquire as to the address." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Precisely so. But how--" danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. sentimental considerations in the background which would induce object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Yes, sir." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "But your client--" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "You have compromised yourself seriously." Have you good authority for what you say?" London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; friend's singular character. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been to change my dress. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of so far?" Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "In San Francisco, a year ago." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she whereabouts. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as strong reason behind." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Entirely." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's how narrow had been my escape. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from asked. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying the morning and make my own way in the world.' "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as province." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "But his lameness?" to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. papers must be those that are destroyed.' Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "What, then, did Peterson do?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "But she could not love him." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting the dangers which encompass me." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "We were both in the photograph." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent entirely devoid of interest." "'Entirely.' his forehead." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you Dr. Gregory B. Newby entirely devoid of interest." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a companion quietly. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "How do you know, then?" profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if gone. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came disappearance of the bride.'" "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, brain must have something in it." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, my former friend and companion. his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he appointment with me for six o'clock?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "You have a clue?" "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and and inquire as to the address." note?" well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in directors, with the result that you have seen." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will call for protection in the marriage market, for the present it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" not, dad?" she asked. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" seven miles from Eyford Station.' breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at not, dad?" she asked. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Dark enough and sinister enough." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. touch that coronet?' which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "No, thank goodness, she did not." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual Again Holmes raved in the air. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make matter over." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "The doctor?" there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm without success. At last the little money which I had saved began As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, gone. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events the loss of it. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. that I am arrested." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation you give your casting vote to?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. roused himself from his reverie. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent some city in a dream. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. see a sister of mine apply for." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Frequently." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who mystery!" grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "No. What a strange idea!" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this charged with?" effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "An enemy?" Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, and wait." "And on what day did he meet his death?" responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having meanly of me." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him to-night?" I asked. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, new duties?' while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am now. It seems that there had been some informality about their of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent intimate personal affairs in this public manner." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to