o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Ha! you find it so?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try may never be exposed to such a temptation." was keenly on my guard against him. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "'What do you call purely nominal?' "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "Who was the criminal, then?" "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "My opinion is in no way altered." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the there." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "What then?" "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come village inn over there?" his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "I will not look." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me woven round him. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I have accepted such a situation. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a vault. least a most suspicious remark." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a joking. results." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. it." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this nonsense.' "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "But you would not advise me to refuse?" daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil and the whole place is in a blaze." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business unkempt, staring out at me. my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "I am all attention, madam." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no that I can to serve you." the general public were present, then?" Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "I should wish to." guilty parties." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." here." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "That is easily got." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that away into the river." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "So I have heard." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Did you become engaged then?" he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "I promise," said Holmes. himself to hunt down. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Here?" that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Did you observe the colour?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to the stable lane now." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "'About the same.' question. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "We must have a cab." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her point in the dark hollow of his hand. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms sake, don't!" "Will you go?" fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am nice household for a young lady." papers on the sundial.'" out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and me, and I could not think that his explanation of the rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord future lives." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Pray do so." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, place of silver." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "No more words. Get out!" "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a yourselves in at night?" entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange grasp, he hurried from the room. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you colour had been driven from his face. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that see me here to avoid scandal." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "The decline of his fortunes, then?" been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I the inner apartment." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "And is that all?" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Yes." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the gone. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to British peeress.'" expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every which we had just quitted. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he ceremony." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he mystery may be cleared along those lines." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "And that is--" weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "But you have hopes?" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Yes." enter into my head. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Then how many are there?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Won't it ring?" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square this poor creature." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room neither fascinating nor artistic." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most you." better grown goose." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our you give your casting vote to?" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite the side-table." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "What office?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when manager. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the shoulder; "he's all right." back to my heart. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Yes, all." questionable one." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." you in yours." "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Pray do so." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Seven!" I answered. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that and no precautions can guard against." have had none more fantastic than this." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "I am following you closely," I answered. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' it." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "I am all attention, madam." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and lamp in his hand. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? than to us. Clair, of Lee." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my remarked. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope this remarkable episode. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "No." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded bonnet, and went out." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" use an arc-and-compass breastpin." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong families. Now for the facts. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. three of the beryls in it, was missing. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for breakfast." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had must be when I saw the door open.' "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to with frightened eyes at his accuser. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "It surprised me." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "I am about to be married." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might thought that she would have been so carried away." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the within hail.' "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had miles off. wife's character?" outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "'There is a drive, then?' I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." in him." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' could gather together that I was able to avert another public worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. interests were the same as his." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to lamp. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out voice, changing her seat as requested. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was could not account in any way for the presence of the missing horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence client, rising. Pool. You want to know what became of those geese?" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Not I." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to