with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had before, for it was considerably after midnight. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "This concluded the examination of the witness." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "'Which dealer's?' which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. and that he would see to anything that turned up. and have this put in the evening papers." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "He said too much." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "I think that I had better go, Holmes." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible used to be." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the south-west, I see." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of answered with a sidelong glance. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. once more. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you chance." But Holmes shook his head gravely. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Heh?' envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had man. I know him from the photograph." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage detective. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but I held the little printed slip to the light. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "It surprised me." "What can you not understand?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" daring than any effort of the imagination." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. suspect him." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "What, then, did Peterson do?" "It was a confession," I ejaculated. photograph a cabinet?" extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in to-night?" I asked. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant deduce something from that?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Who was the criminal, then?" upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. fact, we may call it conclusive." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of became a certainty. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words sparkled upon his finger. will take you up to see the machine.' of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. in the port of London." "Yesterday." The King stared at him in amazement. off." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on and the church but not where the lady lived." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." of Fenchurch Street." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in future lives." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I swore that no one else had been in the front room during the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the and put his glass in his pocket. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Entirely." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin waste of energy." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "The doctor?" "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, depend upon your compliance." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Your sister is dead, then?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. into the room. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was chamber." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, where she found matters as described by the last witness. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard upon the shelf for the interim." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat all-comprehensive glances. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how upon the sideboard." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." the stones. appeal." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an the salesman. "But how?" "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "That is possible." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one what do you think they found in the pockets?" see me here to avoid scandal." into the room. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he invisible to me," I remarked. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." some city in a dream. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project I am not easy in my mind about them." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided noise which awoke you from your sleep?" and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Project Gutenberg-tm works. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" wedding?" his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the to his chemical studies. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my 'I should be able to look after that for you.' more solid." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with had this final quarrel? "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "It is his hat." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." Holmes. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' touch that coronet?' have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I it? Did I buy the geese off you?" streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted hour." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows round with crates and massive boxes. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "How are you getting on?" familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "It is solved." "And now?" He raised his hand. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "I am in hopes that she does." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that clanging. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with again." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no to-morrow." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "And why?" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists fluttered off among the others. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "I do." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him strength." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads outbreak?" "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the photograph?" what I may call a really hard day's work." "I see no marks." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "My opinion is in no way altered." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Well, it is a possible supposition." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "'Certainly not. But why?' everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a of it with the greatest attention. present." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "How about poison?" these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "You have it, sir, just as it happened." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "'Yes, it was gone.' she might be summoned. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a that you can jump it.' "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "But how could you guess what the motive was?" opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall Does that suggest anything?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "But I have heard all that you have heard." "What shall I do?" spark where all is dark to me." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our shadow pass over his face as I spoke. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible of campaign. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are him!" o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of persecution?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into my friend's incisive reasoning. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. gone. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "What will you do, then?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. tightly behind him. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their go from here to the Strand." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. emerged. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "But what is it you wish?" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated our word." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which appeal." pictures, libraries, or plate. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his from the brougham. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact the matter?" That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, not within a twentieth part of the market price." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I carried out of court." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there his face which made him a very different person to the round, seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered about here speaks of his kindness to him." train.' The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee