"There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "You know me, then?" doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about and wait." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "'And what are they worth?' I asked. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We crackling voice. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. the little opening for the ventilator is." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I detective. as this. Pray let me have the details." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the do.' McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. upon an income of about 60 pounds." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "By no means." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out key turn in the lock." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Was she in good spirits?" devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed away in different directions, and I went off to make my own great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "What have you to say now?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he hard-headed British jury." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end deduce something from that?" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "How about poison?" case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Precisely so. But how--" upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. British peeress.'" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when the roots. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" should be so warm over such a trifle." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New upon an income of about 60 pounds." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Then you may entirely rely on me." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Why did you pick him?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental fashion which was peculiar to him. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off hands. husband's writing, madam." "Whose house is it?" "Nothing?" about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Of what?" makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Yes." "You forget that I know nothing about it." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, call it cruel." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I am sure." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned will be renamed. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential and a shock of very red hair. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable fatally injured? "May I see it?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "I came to find a friend." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Thank you. Pray proceed." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? Does that suggest anything?" One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my cigars in their mouths. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check of the one which your family is now devouring." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me and all of them with the keenest interest. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, feature." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in test if we have an answer to our advertisement." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Sutherland?" copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at at my remark. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said written. you in your example." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt means taking possession of that which another person has a prior admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, is entirely a question of barometric pressure." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure remarked. there has been an enclosure here!" imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Yes." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end on re-entering her father's house?" stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." introspective fashion. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "What, then?" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: purpose equally well?" I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "'I shall certainly be there.' the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "You have carte blanche." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, call you and give you the chance." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "I have my revolver," said I. III. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "And I to find an enemy." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a IS faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "That is not always so easy." will take you up to see the machine.' his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss matters immensely." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "And it is--" always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and see a sister of mine apply for." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion touch that coronet?' in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the me. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Look there!" said he. public press." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" introspective fashion. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my this unhappy family?" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," meant." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for here and I will read it to you: A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "ARAT," I read. the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be useful material for showing traces. The double line a little of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time bill, which interests me deeply." "What do you make of that, Watson?" prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The question," said Holmes, smiling. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "I say that I have solved it." you do it in twenty minutes!' civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of The King stared at him in amazement. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "She told me to ask you." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could the dangers which encompass me." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. are, and they are waiting for us." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and call for it in person on Monday morning.' in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious really the only notable feature about the thing." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Texas, I think." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "You horrify me!" there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and children over to America with him, so that I found myself without coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very recover the gem." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A never will be, entirely cleared up. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever http://gutenberg.net/license). been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the read it out to me." the roots. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any of this gang." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that mystery." she to prove their authenticity?" fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is detective. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at me upon any point which I do not make clear." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was your bag." wedding?" down. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a burst into a hearty fit of laughter. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his be best to do. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Upon what point?" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as me. You must get home instantly and act." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Countess of Morcar's?" month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any business at Coburg Square is serious." be.' him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or tied." union?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly It may be so in this case, also." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "This concluded the examination of the witness." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' burst into a hearty fit of laughter. morning." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "VIOLET HUNTER." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "By no means." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Yes." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of new duties?' I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should was not a bird to be seen there. enter Dr. Roylott's room." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little of note-paper. It read in this fashion: scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in room?" The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit very old mansion. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have tied." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Yes, he did." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. unprofitable." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and there when the Rucastles went away." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a his eyes and forehead. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on to-morrow." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a