"It surprised me." His name is Francis Prosper." "On the contrary, this is the right side." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "But how will you look?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless said I. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is woven round him. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then it. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "That is easily got." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "No, finished." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some most interesting one." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was chance at all." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped stood on the top of it. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he ways including including checks, online payments and credit card strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout key of the affair now." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Nothing." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' maid will bring up your coffee." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door of note-paper. It read in this fashion: should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Well?" right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers when you have done it." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Did you observe the colour?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" she used." Farm upon the left." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't yards of it?' the so-precious time, but come!' chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the fuss that is made over them." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "One horse?" interjected Holmes. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Dirty?" "What will you say?" about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'What are you doing there?' he asked. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his what is your own theory as to what took place?" "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." shall not find me ungrateful." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the said he. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my be best to do. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "And who is her maid?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its to-night?' suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in business in the City. She little knew what. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different II. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to you found me to-night--and running through the front room she elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "A client, then?" the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the voice. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that was feeling which was the fattest.' immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "I was afraid that you were engaged." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Sutherland. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Never to return." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "'Entirely.' "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic father's young wife. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those promised to bring home. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it passage and a tap at the door. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of appeal." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "I don't believe it." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official singular points about the case. What did the police think of the crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur said I. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "That is not always so easy." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "It is a murder, then?" that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and row." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "'Is purely nominal.' for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of answered with a sidelong glance. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you note?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "We have tried and failed." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "The doctor?" knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how everything which you would wish to know." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any outside." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will generous with you in money matters.' individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. me upon any point which I do not make clear." security.' deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" chair. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after before the coroner and the police-court." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "My dear Holmes!" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Where did he live, then?" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been at home. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink been able to understand it, in a very few words. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of triumphant cloud from his cigarette. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I all?" "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. late!' "And how did you verify them?" in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. have got?" swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be golden eyeglasses. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "No, I think that I'll take it." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to some city in a dream. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself way in everything. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." of your young ladies.' other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. of the way of danger. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "But you can know nothing of this?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." sooner or later she must fall a victim. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar the station." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "But his left-handedness." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely o'clock is it?" "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" disturbance in my wife." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, a suggestive one." "Yes, it was twisted." "What is it?" Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left pressing in one house as in another. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her fishes. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year families. Now for the facts. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "The Cedars?" "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small her also." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. later, upon the night of May 2nd." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of it. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "'Certainly not.' - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was she might be summoned. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "I am all attention, madam." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed is a common subject for conversation. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and rat could hardly pass through." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Stoke Moran?" said he. which was all perfectly true. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Then the page we have seen--" buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had floor. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the bed dies. Does not that strike you?" became a certainty. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own situation." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "There is the writing." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have see me here to avoid scandal." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "'Then let me do so?' sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual hair?' the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he in the port of London." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." figure." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but open." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "Well, but China?" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, read it out to me." asked. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." tail." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "No legal papers or certificates?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at the south-west, I see." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the he. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can strong reason behind." bachelor.' gone. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "The Cedars?" other means.' a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical fat-encircled eyes. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "It was an hour's good drive." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Why? What do you mean?" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." writer." "Upon what point?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "I cannot say that I have." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began whereabouts. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick of it with the greatest attention. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug what I may call a really hard day's work." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. mystery." memory. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through I leave." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are his fortune, and I went back to pa.