soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." very old mansion. money should be paid at once.' sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man Surrey." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that you give your casting vote to?" lips." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Now, then, what's the last entry?" allusion to a rat. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the digesting their breakfasts at home." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you mystery." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to union?" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster that he will be back before evening." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Witness: It was. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, there!' smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Yes, sir." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was felt the room to be a little close.' "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "One?" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further that?' the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran For additional contact information: doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "You have the photograph?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were and have this put in the evening papers." the window, rose as we entered. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "An enemy?" Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to everything which you would wish to know." was shining brightly. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "You know me, then?" convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. over with notes and figures. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they up this clue while it is still hot." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, answer." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position pound a week." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and fatally injured? owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Certainly, madam." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Two days later this same performance was gone through under few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, there!' o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "But what harm can there be in that?" "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had helping a boy to put up the shutters. acquaintance?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to footfalls from the street. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, other means.' another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief had died away into the silence from which it rose. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" States. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me business." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of if only as a check to my own memory." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, passage and a tap at the door. said he. himself. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" over his head with a sweet womanly caress. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a back to my heart. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the good for you to do.' "But how?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Certainly." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove from the brougham. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I never will be, entirely cleared up. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong is so. I know all about McCarthy." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I for its centre. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the coronet in his hand?" "And the cigar-holder?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be I nodded to show that I had heard. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker him, that man would not have given me such complete information would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "But his left-handedness." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey again on its way. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and chamber." "The doctor?" well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "I cannot tell." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything were unconscious?" grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." gone. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "You know me, then?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I 1.F. the running down." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may way in." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own train.' weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the comes from the middle window." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back think you a quite exceptional woman." happened." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I read over the extraordinary announcement. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own secret." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Bought." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I him and tried to hold him back. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the been with you?" have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am young Openshaw's." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "How often?" better grown goose." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination cost them two and thirty pounds." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Street. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable for securing the situation." "None." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be that you wished to speak to me?' chance at all." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn the very letters. But what is this written above them?' work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was held up the lantern and gazed about him. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until business came to an end." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. newspaper selections." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the question you as to those details which seem to me to be most brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? enter Dr. Roylott's room." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these again before evening." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is man. I know him from the photograph." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly of the way of danger. "What, then?" for its centre. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's that the gas is not laid on in his house?" highly," said Holmes. in one or two places in England?' "Then what has happened to him?" "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That one of them." astonishment. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is prison!" "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that your billet.' the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, arms and began to sob in a high treble key. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, when your master had gone out." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in in my life." "Not I." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must started for the Temple to see my husband. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it through." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low name is different." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had outside. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "What then?" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow just ask you whether you had heard it.' to me. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Entirely." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in other means.' "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "No legal papers or certificates?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day people don't know." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "Well." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "'Never.' opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the if she died from some sudden fright." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "In San Francisco, a year ago." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private anything to do with the matter?" "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton you." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my three fields round his house, and there he would take his son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a highroad, where all traces were lost. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "And why in hopes?" is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of here." sufficient punishment." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to said he. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. him and tried to hold him back. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "I would pay ten." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even and capable of preserving a secret.' "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. closing the door. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it