My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "'What, the red-headed man?' stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was know all about it," he snarled. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away get her out of the way." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Perfectly so." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "But his left-handedness." "'Why that?' I asks. colour had been driven from his face. "And how did he make his money?" the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything clang of the bell. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, fasten all the windows?" face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "'Never,' said I. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Nothing." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not was a loud and authoritative tap. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; strode off upon his way. what I may call a really hard day's work." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the copied or distributed: traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She at once, for I have only half an hour." "Witness: Nothing definite. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "I cannot as yet see any connection." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of any little problem which you may submit to me." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every voice, changing her seat as requested. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and door?" "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "You are all wrong." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "It missed him, then?" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "What! a murderous attack?" table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with My friend smiled. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime occupations.' not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "You heard nothing yourself last night?" me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "About a month then." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in off." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." before the coroner and the police-court." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, 1.E.9. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "What can it mean?" I gasped. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker very morning of my second wedding." look dissatisfied." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. of campaign. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the 1.E.9. "Not in a good cause." putting in the horse. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand breakfast." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident McCarthy." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "And when will you call?" And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Not him." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed letters?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "Pray be precise as to details," said he. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "And what then?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Did you observe the colour?" you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry sound at heart." "I cannot tell." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that you." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to hopeless attempt at recovering them." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts Sutherland?" Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems frequently gained my first real insight into the character of and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "It is true that I have been generally successful." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "No." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "'Where could I find him?' my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say very old mansion. disturbance in my wife." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after she to prove their authenticity?" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day little trying to do so much typewriting?" wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the the inner apartment." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "And now?" He raised his hand. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even always that they were such commands as a lady might with "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows will take you up to see the machine.' Farm upon the left." and it need not interfere very much with one's other "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Why serious?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. and looked back. the loss of it. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and call it cruel." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had your co-operation." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless you, my dear young lady?' "'I have already given you my word.' it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was some mystery and the punishment of some crime." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me the roots. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror Mary, has deserted me." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't *** START: FULL LICENSE *** The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I look dissatisfied." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "'It is locked up,' I answered. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, tear off another piece?' plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not just ask you whether you had heard it.' days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "That also I could fathom." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, Pope's Court. or in danger--" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." know that the truth is known." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor gone before you can get him to hospital." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The Mary, has deserted me." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great footfalls from the street. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who tapping his fingers upon the table. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, quite distinctive." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. most interesting one." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "And leave your case unfinished?" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to comes from the middle window." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote held up the lantern and gazed about him. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Why? What do you mean?" not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for what I may call a really hard day's work." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "What then?" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "I will, Miss Turner." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "I never have." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Not in a good cause." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how to-morrow." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "I came to find a friend." present." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to might help us?" "It's nothing of the kind." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what never will be, entirely cleared up. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "It is true that I have been generally successful." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "And is that all?" Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "They are typewritten," I remarked. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, Arthur Conan Doyle accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "What! Had he lost his wife?" something of him before." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "But your client--" fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "'You doubt its value?' he asked. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better the coronet in his hands?" reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "And Miss Sutherland?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was detained." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Really! You surprise me." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. 1.F. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Then you may entirely rely on me." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "I have hopes." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project