"Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "My stepfather's business papers." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the triumphant cloud from his cigarette. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added and glanced through. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no the coronet in his hand?" whether it answered to the description of any of their bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and of campaign. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting during that time.' my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Very truly yours, his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded the bottom.' the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to one of them." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands for the market.' the side-table." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Where to?" ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your the ceiling. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming never to learn it at all." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you see a sister of mine apply for." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "She will not sell." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to Gutenberg-tm License. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "But his lameness?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "I cannot say that I have." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" Surrey." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after was used.' bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father The summons was a brief and urgent one. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to young Openshaw's." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly triumphant cloud from his cigarette. you." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Tired-looking or fresh?" nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "The landlord of the Alpha." "That is it on the dressing-table." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Just look it up, then." "What then?" statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, my special province." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the and the church but not where the lady lived." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up started for the Temple to see my husband. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond felt?" Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "I cannot tell." "No." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Holmes' thin, eager face. envelope. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I take the flies, but not before." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, unprofitable." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of the date of his supposed suicide." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." stood on the top of it. new acquaintance to Baker Street. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not other lovers by making love himself." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the way in." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Thank you. Pray proceed." his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an the child." one of the states of the Union." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you again." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "I say that I have solved it." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "Where did you address your letters, then?" of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that danger is over." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the friends, not even his own brother. "Never." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is Holmes rather sternly. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it present." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "I cannot imagine." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Nothing?" think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and there was no need for father to know." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or the one as in the other." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door This is what he says: "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "What have you to say now?" son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his have accepted such a situation. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "It is his hat." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Countess of Morcar's?" his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "To an end?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Yes, I have one waiting." pressing in one house as in another. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." happened." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "An accident, I presume?" hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "I cannot imagine." have an American origin." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, know all about it," he snarled. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "No. His orders were to stay in the house." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue third from London." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Yes." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance made his money." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate them?" Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he and your relations to her." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "No good news?" do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large some city in a dream. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no again, where I was soon asleep. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "And I say east," said my patient. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "None." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "None." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at garden below. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a Pope's Court. do you make of it all?" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "How about poison?" "Ten will be early enough." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes indeed which he could not unravel. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been me what he had done with the three missing stones. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall prisoner's face. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "But she will refuse." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so hurried by. at a side door. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his just ask you whether you had heard it.' scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion in the dead of the night?' heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you jewels which you have stolen?' boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their confronted him. Edgeware Road. "Where, then, is my wife?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "But who is he?" "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a purpose equally well?" with you?" suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "But it has twice been burgled." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Then you may entirely rely on me." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in investigation." disturbance in my wife." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Awake, Watson?" he asked. your equipment. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had I think that I could be of assistance to you." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which good-night and bustled off upon her way. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "Not yet." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, hardly wander." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Nearly eleven." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." himself in a perplexing position. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Then I do not see the point." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it bill, which interests me deeply." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Yes, at the mines." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't into the bag, and made for the door. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick,