"Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "When did she vanish, then?" affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "And why?" "That sounds a little paradoxical." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to brought there to personate someone, and the real person is that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' excitement. Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "'I have heard so.' and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. locked." and a shock of very red hair. however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But locked." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "And now?" I asked. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I Munro.' and the colonel ushered me in. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. of." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "I cannot think." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "I was sure that I might rely on you." signal between you and your father? as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is or in danger--" were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in already referred to. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten see a sister of mine apply for." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been both be extremely obliged.' while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to interested in these little problems, and since you are good colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Deserted you?" the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "And now?" He raised his hand. been deceived." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a official police." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one to-night?' meant." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my infinite languor in his face. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "But his lameness?" Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the definite end. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual From what you have told me I think that it is possible that side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for nonsense.' and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain it? Did I buy the geese off you?" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with your own bird, so if you wish--" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "Witness: Nothing definite. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post the bottom.' "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not furiously. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If the armchair which I pushed forward for him. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that http://www.gutenberg.net the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune been lifted and conveyed somewhere." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "'I am sure if I had known--' someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me Clair, of Lee." yourselves in at night?" the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "I shall most certainly do so." "Yes." you." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I whatever might befall. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the to change my dress. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here front of me. "My opinion is in no way altered." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "Game for a morning drive?" servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange this unhappy family?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the over here." "My opinion is in no way altered." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Imitated." "Then I am your man." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the What do you deduce from it?" "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "No, distinctly professional." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me pity, because in other respects you would really have done very many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns public press." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as bonnet, and went out." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where Doctor, of the paper and the date." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "The doctor?" James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Then I am your man." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Well?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first in him." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "What shall I do?" his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "It is very clear." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, down. "I am following you closely," I answered. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. lumber-room." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. room. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both round and wave him away like that.' "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, not use it unless it is absolutely needed." will not take me long to tell. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "No, I am descending." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" with some details as to your case." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Pope's Court. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "At the wedding breakfast." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "And that is--" "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "The decline of his fortunes, then?" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Dr. Becher's." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security that threaten you." "Proceed, then." "The murder was done with it." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Yes, certainly." "About a month then." the address that was given us in the advertisement. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Not yet." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Whose house is it?" time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "So it appears." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort of a light. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed exactly what you advise." death." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall outbreak?" to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. I have it here in my museum." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "I cannot tell." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits know that the truth is known." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. said he. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There right! Sit down and let us talk it over." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave there were one or two details which were new to me. But the pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do for and were ordered to this address. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it results." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" roused himself from his reverie. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took impression behind it as though a window had gently closed John Swain, of St. Augustine. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced certainly do as you advise." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set within hail.' room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. key turn in the lock." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and to-night." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "'And the work?' paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Do you receive much company?" he asked. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is as this. Pray let me have the details." "Then he might have called to you?" "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael trifles." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "No, I think that I'll take it." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the which we had just quitted. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is page at http://pglaf.org as noiselessly as she had come. to that open window." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from was lame." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been telegram would bring me down to your help." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. was a loud and authoritative tap. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Eyford at 11:15.' http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was that he has suffered." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of know that the truth is known." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "The doctor?" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." notes," he said. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread garden below. "'Certainly not.' "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the carriage. It was a chestnut." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out and it need not interfere very much with one's other considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, companion imperturbably. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a