been with you?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a room. "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Doctor, of the paper and the date." "If so, much may have happened between." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Yes." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, before the coroner and the police-court." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Yes." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, chance." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which confronted him. details." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs to talk it over. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Have you it here?" possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little tell me that you intended to go into harness." closing the door. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "'It is locked up,' I answered. goes." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay confronted him. "I will try. What is it?" cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had helping a boy to put up the shutters. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "It is a murder, then?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Entirely." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "No legal papers or certificates?" statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "What then?" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "You are certainly joking, Holmes." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "'About the same.' during the last few years, and there are many noble families to father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. you understand?" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Munro.' willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, all?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm had this final quarrel? "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I over part of the map. "What do you read?" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." the house with me." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt before, for it was considerably after midnight. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name public press." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it minor matters until to-morrow." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and is four-and-twenty." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "No?" seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At was it brought him the coronet? populous neighbourhood." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." returning from some small jollification and was making his way of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." sound at heart." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she of the way of danger. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the the matter." mystery!" "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Watson," he said cordially. closing the door. tied." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which make me his representative both with the servants and with the that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with your troubles." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "And now?" I asked. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "I think it very unlikely." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "And help." the tragedy. happened." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "He disappeared so suddenly." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "No more words. Get out!" asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into respectable self." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining means taking possession of that which another person has a prior 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried said I. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "It is half-past ten now." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This fire. You quite follow me?" sparkled upon his finger. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "'Why that?' I asks. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the unprecedented a position." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of London for the present?" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "'How far from the body?' exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "No sign of it?" away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must galvanised. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "No." "I am sure." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which strength." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "You have carte blanche." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. from you?" might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting as the one I chose?' devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the help us in this matter." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." true." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. Munro.' fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Here?" over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by dates and names. deduce something from that?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't information in his hands the value of which he did not himself while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend affair. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied the coronet in his hand?" other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out late!' The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its over here." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Does that suggest anything?" "Look there!" said he. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I lectures into a series of tales." "Where is it, then?" "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "I think that I had better go, Holmes." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "From his hat?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As coat-tails." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Yes." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and the window, rose as we entered. "Witness: Nothing definite. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "'I shall certainly be there.' could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be following enigmatical notices: directly by questioning you." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing his grey eyes. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "But how?" fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have not fit the lock." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that points to suicide?" became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" McCarthy." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it affection." the south-west, I see." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a felt?" form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Well?" As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be examination of the premises, but without finding anything which your bag." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more he bowed and left the room without another word. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the infinite languor in his face. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "No. What a strange idea!" company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but questionable one." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is garden below. I was concerned in it." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "I see no marks." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I arrangements." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as of his shoulders. Holmes' room. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been morning." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." jewels which you have stolen?' other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in morning."