very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief not personally threatened." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on south, for the country is more deserted there." you." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he been with you?" play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Awake, Watson?" he asked. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But this man was intellectual?" "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very very morning of my second wedding." here and I will read it to you: troubles have been weighing upon his mind. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "No, I think that I'll take it." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "I shall most certainly do so." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for 'I should be able to look after that for you.' o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally over with notes and figures. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love where she found matters as described by the last witness. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis drawing your inferences." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as the tragedy. assist you in forming an opinion." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor amused." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Will you go?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "'Certainly not. But why?' "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to learned something! Where are the gems?" she has been waylaid. There has been no result." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. London for the present?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where imbecility!" he cried. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. chemical work which was so dear to him. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a eavesdroppers?' Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right appeared upon the scene." allusion to a rat. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no is now desirous of getting those letters back." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "It is half-past ten now." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is chamber." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Did your wife hear all this?" agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden minor matters until to-morrow." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Won't it ring?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, tell him that I know him to be innocent." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "No." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "We must have a cab." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Dirty?" every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Not social, then?" "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much and no precautions can guard against." the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Then you may be so with me." upon the white wrist. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "And what did you learn from him?" fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Precisely." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "'What then?' I asked. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "You have carte blanche." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good observed. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. down. daring than any effort of the imagination." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two Again Holmes raved in the air. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Sutherland. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a to where he stood hid behind the curtain. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "'Ample.' disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" certainly do as you advise." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "'Is purely nominal.' this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your wedding?" Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand during which he might have communicated with his friend the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard speckled band?" "My dear Holmes!" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate companion quietly. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are drawing your inferences." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Just look it up, then." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses distance from the station, and there we found the young lady both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon was shining brightly. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help the station." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, burst out into a roar of laughter. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Really! You surprise me." to Leatherhead. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his His name is Francis Prosper." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save business?" particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "'Ten to two.' and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' me. You must get home instantly and act." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "And you don't know his address?" "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "In what way?" asked Holmes. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." pound a week." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a me what he had done with the three missing stones. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "No." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more to me. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "My Mary? Impossible!" decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had bears upon the case?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Here?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland the so-precious time, but come!' slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since know that the truth is known." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and you in your example." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "So I have heard." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside ventilator." Farm upon the left." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "'Most admirably.' roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the points to suicide?" drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was DISSOLVED. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted late!' "'Most admirably.' woman." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A hopeless attempt at recovering them." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we such attractions and accomplishments?' "I was afraid that you were engaged." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front the address that was given us in the advertisement. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately ashen face. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "Pray continue your narrative." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank allusion to a rat. sake, don't!" round with crates and massive boxes. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "And it is--" the little opening for the ventilator is." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and my little problems." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Nothing?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we becomes even more simple." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for hopeless attempt at recovering them." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Not in the least." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "'Is purely nominal.' "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that observed. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a what do you think they found in the pockets?" man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right are windows in it, of course?" given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good Holmes." cause to be." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." shoulder; "he's all right." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of do." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction not fit the lock." meant." chance at all." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "If so, much may have happened between." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "At what time?" meant it for the best. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. call for it in person on Monday morning.' I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "What of the rat, then?" description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There any little problem which you may submit to me." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and the bottom.' sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two where Mr. Fordham shows you.' have been better. It is all right." appeared upon the scene." "ARAT," I read. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "'Never.' silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "To ruin me." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally at my own good fortune. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "But who is he?" "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "A confidential servant?" that I can to serve you." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "'Entirely.' nonsense.' the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the which was all perfectly true. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "To an English lawyer named Norton." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can guilty one." about. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the once more. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him again, where I was soon asleep. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was with frightened eyes at his accuser. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were