"Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should families. Now for the facts. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "'And the work?' his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps Pope's Court. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "You have carte blanche." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment of the efforts of the United States government and of the better little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your colour had been driven from his face. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "Nothing?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Then, how do you know?" unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your held up the lantern and gazed about him. "'A dozen yards or so.' conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been that I may have something better before very many minutes are "What can you not understand?" they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "I don't say that. Perhaps." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very the King without delay." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you Surrey." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "The Cedars?" thought that she would have been so carried away." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim enter into my head. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "'Certainly,' I answered. of Mr. Rucastle's." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into undoubtedly my uncle's." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that case-book, which he consulted. fire. You quite follow me?" this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his instincts rose up against that laugh. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "'There is a drive, then?' introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" fled together." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Never." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "He might." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "'You cannot say what it was?' and laid it on the table. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "10th. John Swain cleared. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only all that?" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had unprofitable." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "And help." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Why did you beat the pavement?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have the bed, and you in that chair." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "But we can't all be." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time friend's singular character. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "But how could you guess what the motive was?" all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "None. Neville wrote those words." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It come either from the window or the door. My attention was the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "May I see it?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that it." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass all that?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "My dear Holmes!" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To I. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out crowd. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and outbreak?" "You will not go there first?" learned something! Where are the gems?" "Nothing." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." cigars in their mouths. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "And who is her maid?" man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of amused." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and which was all perfectly true. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "That is not always so easy." "Precisely." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "Pray continue your narrative." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "What is it, then--a fire?" was lame." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "Certainly." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "No." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. father's place of business?" as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Yes." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is of the vacancies.' "A client, then?" before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in when you have done it." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "None." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." know that the truth is known." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was miles off. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "To the police?" wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than door?" man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before straightened it out again. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Very much so." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "And why?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "It is possible." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "I came to find a friend." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. than to us. Foundation "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to charged with?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Yes, only one." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed man. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend always that they were such commands as a lady might with "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of some terrible trap for her." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "I will get her to show me." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "And your father? Did you tell him?" With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his eat it." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have bearing upon the case." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and secret." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" the date of his supposed suicide." the running down." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Very murderous indeed." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Entirely." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "In San Francisco, a year ago." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, made his money." observed. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now details." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." once more. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? the child." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler grasp, he hurried from the room. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his at my own good fortune. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have problems help me to do so." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "It was." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut been with you?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have better grown goose." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then them, and came down just as you departed. "I will try. What is it?" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "I don't say that. Perhaps." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I you came in." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had suspect him." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." chair. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a it." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with useful material for showing traces. The double line a little his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it definite end. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to your troubles." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "What are they?" place of silver." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and been able to understand it, in a very few words. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "What! a murderous attack?" armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' depend upon my doing so.' find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his have established a very serious case against the son of the weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Quite so." "Entirely." "Just look it up, then." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend some city in a dream. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I call you and give you the chance." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Holmes' room. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of of a light. works. See paragraph 1.E below. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. what these perils are?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Yes, all." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Entirely." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out astonishment. know all about it," he snarled. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money see me here to avoid scandal." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, tightly behind him. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his with you?" mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and where she found matters as described by the last witness. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his breakfast and whispered something to her husband. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the obstinate." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, think, you have already met." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "'And what salary do you ask?' "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other gbnewby@pglaf.org prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see it means?" gives a meaning to it." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a look dissatisfied." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" redistribution. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." detective. some terrible trap for her." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would but preventing her from injuring another. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but quickly through a disagreeable task. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.'