foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of said Mr. Holder. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, seven miles from Eyford Station.' I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! Leave Paddington by the 11:15." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling bed dies. Does not that strike you?" to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I eat it." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" roused himself from his reverie. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at For additional contact information: "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to points to suicide?" "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he lost nothing by them." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he over here." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I disappearance of the bride.'" would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that unclasping of his long thin hands. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "But to whom?" next day. "Then I do not see the point." "How many? I don't know." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce front of me. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "At the wedding breakfast." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "It is true that I have been generally successful." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be which should have the effect of calling the attention of the suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which his fortune, and I went back to pa. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "How did that help you?" "Yes, all." "I cannot imagine." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest death." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" main points of my analysis." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, have not had my rubber." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the ways of our fellow-men." yet." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism but preventing her from injuring another. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him to that open window." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was in my life." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I delighted to hear it," he said. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be evidence," I remarked. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" thirty. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able into the room. went to the Alpha were town bred." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed as he remarks, very much against the son." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Yes." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "How did that help you?" during that time.' another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "'Yes.' "No." The King stared at him in amazement. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an know that the truth is known." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Holmes." purpose of examination. "No bad?" "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no fashion which was peculiar to him. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from persecution?" instincts rose up against that laugh. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the my friend's incisive reasoning. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. It may be so in this case, also." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the the one as in the other." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently take the flies, but not before." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "We have tried and failed." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Did you become engaged then?" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. had picked up in the wood. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress that he will be back before evening." said I. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall once more on the important position which you have been fortunate 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises strong reason behind." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "'Entirely.' "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very you." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive I held the little printed slip to the light. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "And your mother is alive?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "I shall be delighted." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both Dr. Gregory B. Newby expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "The gentleman I describe." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the so far?" observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was over his head with a sweet womanly caress. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would bore every mark of being an average commonplace British along the entire front of the house, with three long windows that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "It must be recovered." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross lost his Christmas dinner." "And for present expenses?" in the hope of finding them." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were read over the extraordinary announcement. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the soul! here is her carriage at the door." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "It was an hour's good drive." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to to Leatherhead. knowledge of the world." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general could not have written that. It is the German who is so "I cannot imagine." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I presume?" "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in business?" a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "What I expected to see." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "'In my own bureau.' case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "What then?" gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to be. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge in my life." very morning of my second wedding." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, Stoke Moran." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad opportunities to fix the problem. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "So I heard. You have him here?" the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the to-morrow." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried the best of training." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an province." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "'You cannot say what it was?' "Just look it up, then." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed a few minutes he said that it would be all right. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "'How far from the body?' assist you in forming an opinion." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled about here speaks of his kindness to him." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears wedding?" one which it was hard to resist. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and orange pips. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for there is a decided draught." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole vault. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own there." door?" surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, ceremony." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which prisoner's face. I held the little printed slip to the light. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "'Where to?' remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "She walked into the breakfast-room." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a pound a week." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the stammered. certainly do as you advise." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "I cannot as yet see any connection." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been points to suicide?" "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was now. It seems that there had been some informality about their Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be of note-paper. It read in this fashion: I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness.