no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "How did you deduce the select?" been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend the general public were present, then?" one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does train from Paddington which would bring you there at about confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Nothing." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the least a most suspicious remark." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Very much so." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "I think it very unlikely." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "How are you getting on?" money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." the room while you explain this matter?" his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a she might be summoned. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be gone before you can get him to hospital." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. and looked back. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their said he at last. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under will not take me long to tell. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a my friend's incisive reasoning. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no the inquest, and which are worth considering." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Foundation "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. his eyes and forehead. 1.F. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are remarked. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "But I have heard all that you have heard." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "It is to him that this trophy belongs." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was criminal. We have already had experience of such." "But what will you do?" intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those envelope. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "But how?" myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that shall use the carriage to-night." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them tell them apart.' been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "'Where could I find him?' or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. within hail.' handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be to where he stood hid behind the curtain. key of the affair now." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "'What then?' I asked. "In heaven's name, what for?" adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Holmes, the busybody!" family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the me. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Why, what do you mean?" it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting other, as fresh and trim as possible. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret and a shock of very red hair. "But how will you look?" rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to said he. peculiar to him. "What do you make of that, Watson?" morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here strength in the others." that?' writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his what I may call a really hard day's work." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young train.' "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent chemical work which was so dear to him. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "'And what salary do you ask?' "She told me to ask you." you give your casting vote to?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases done what I asked you, Jones?" took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "He said too much." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he quick march!" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which child?' have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must despair." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Only as much as we can deduce." "You are all wrong." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "A client, then?" existence." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, points to suicide?" "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies imbecility!" he cried. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit do." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my ill-usage at the hands of fortune. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "I cannot imagine." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up Count Von Kramm." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "That also I could fathom." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "'Certainly not. But why?' being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms nothing of it?" "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "What shall I do?" "I don't say that. Perhaps." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right down. never came back." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Gutenberg-tm License. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "And is that all?" the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a in the port of London." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then bedroom door." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he During two years I have had three consultations and one small drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "And from a noble client?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and conversation I have gathered that they have been married about this remarkable episode. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we served to weaken the effect. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Precisely so. But how--" to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Yes." brain must have something in it." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "It may not come to that," said Holmes. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Has he come with you to-night?" the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "Married! When?" take the flies, but not before." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her written. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." them, and came down just as you departed. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a use an arc-and-compass breastpin." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual III. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "BALLARAT." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion charge against him will break down." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "It goes to the housekeeper's room." gentleman's clothes. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his as noiselessly as she had come. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which read it out to me." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my forbidden door. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Come in!" said he. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. answered with a sidelong glance. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon written, and locked the door of the office after me. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good where we are going." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, upon the shelf for the interim." have had none more fantastic than this." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and Holmes." in. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The what I may call a really hard day's work." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "I am all attention, madam." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "How did that help you?" chance." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal this poor creature." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Well." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to breakfast and whispered something to her husband. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Yes, the wine-cellar." "It must be recovered." chamber." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom this remarkable episode. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet arrested. You then--" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "'Oh, no.' distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman noble correspondent could be. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Yes." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal away to you." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of pierced for earrings?" "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Who was the criminal, then?" slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if that I may have something better before very many minutes are came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. to some other building. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the himself. one which it was hard to resist. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "I saw her in conversation with her maid." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us indiscretion." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "Look there!" said he. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. to that open window." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "She will not sell." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Just look it up, then." think that he is innocent?" told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought fear." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an to Leatherhead. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Not in the least." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him one of the states of the Union." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is into the bag, and made for the door. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, help us in this matter." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "My dear Holmes!" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's copied or distributed: read it out to me." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the I was concerned in it." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "Come in!" said Holmes. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "Eh? What was that?" such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once call for it in person on Monday morning.' revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and jewels which you have stolen?'