"'Certainly,' I answered. Count Von Kramm." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." over with notes and figures. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" was the fact that his father should, according to his account, your billet.' "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon forehead. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the together. "Yes." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "An enemy?" the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this in this way: your room." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "But what is it you wish?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in crime." manager. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. strode off upon his way. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "When did it break out?" "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Well?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "'Is 4 pounds a week.' we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "That is it on the dressing-table." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography 1.E.9. brandy and water within his reach. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had detective. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "I will do it." Pool. comes from the middle window." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under there is a decided draught." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "No more words. Get out!" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. locked." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all woven round him. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "It came here." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort too. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Seven!" I answered. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' fuss that is made over them." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "Seven!" I answered. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the down from London to inquire more deeply into it." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "And your mother is alive?" have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has his knees, staring into the fire. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the where she found matters as described by the last witness. the coronet in his hands?" "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted will take you up to see the machine.' unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been coat-tails." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's orange pips. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon how narrow had been my escape. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the presume?" out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their begun to whiten, even as mine has." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since matter over." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner ventilator." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but examine." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "But his left-handedness." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one strength." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about said Mr. Holder. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other forecastle of an emigrant ship. entirely devoid of interest." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in with you?" to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So clang of the bell. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "You don't mind breaking the law?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some any little problem which you may submit to me." upon the shelf for the interim." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and she to prove their authenticity?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and late!' from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Yes." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so against a man in the prime of life?" "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of mysterious end." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "I promise," said Holmes. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" his cane at the bell-pull. you in yours." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to populous neighbourhood." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "Yes." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at carriage. It was a chestnut." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She any." be.' Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Quite so. She has her freedom." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than the ceiling. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of less than 26s. 4d. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." always that they were such commands as a lady might with him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven I took the paper from him and read as follows: made him keep the appointment." that I am arrested." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of works. See paragraph 1.E below. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" such person." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who affair. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "The decline of his fortunes, then?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "'How far from the body?' inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her to-morrow." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those client, rising. three of the beryls in it, was missing. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "But we can't all be." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "I should wish to." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of whole matter to your consideration." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "The vanishing of the lady." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "What! You do not mean bodies?" at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, seven miles from Eyford Station.' From what you have told me I think that it is possible that last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything now. It seems that there had been some informality about their line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the to arrive at through this?" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is Miss Holder?" may never be exposed to such a temptation." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "On Monday." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and an introduction to him?" 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. joking. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "It goes to the housekeeper's room." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the derbies." populous neighbourhood." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he do you make of it all?" the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Yes." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the 1.E.9. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "What of the rat, then?" beg that you will break it off." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the States. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "What can it mean?" I gasped. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "But your client--" you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had my secret was safe in his possession. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; for and were ordered to this address. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "You have the photograph?" silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to she has been waylaid. There has been no result." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his writing, and yet I know it well." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his had formerly been in part my own. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could society." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my married her." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the child?' paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, have not had my rubber." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "Yes, they were peculiar boots." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked helping a boy to put up the shutters. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." bearing upon the case." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with what is your own theory as to what took place?" the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before enter into my head. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. upon an income of about 60 pounds." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention know what is wrong with it.' he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. 11:15.' charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his details." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must any." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a eat it." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we pound a week." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The and have this put in the evening papers." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave galvanised. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with do.' "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was indeed which he could not unravel. "Your sister is dead, then?"