destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "So I heard. You have him here?" daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in legal crime." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches telegram would bring me down to your help." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Does that suggest anything?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a I leave." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently and put his glass in his pocket. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight most interesting one." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a of a light. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow during which he might have communicated with his friend the will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your certainly not very gracious." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning chair. gone. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the McCarthy." fat-encircled eyes. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of to-night?' closing the door. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an most interesting one." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "'Entirely.' governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "When did she vanish, then?" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "But who is he?" remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the records." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day my secret was safe in his possession. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who your bag." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to to-night." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Where, then, is my wife?" time." morning." "Entirely." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "I have hopes." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced security.' mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "You don't mind breaking the law?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some returned to France?" heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. strength of mind to control. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am pierced for earrings?" Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "I do." http://www.gutenberg.net the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of such person." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, ready to-morrow?' "Quite so." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do works. See paragraph 1.E below. the inquest, and which are worth considering." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to tapping his fingers upon the table. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "And leave your case unfinished?" company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "'Yes, sir.' "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. sneer upon his pale face. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" ways of our fellow-men." "How did that help you?" "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming Where does the thing come from?' right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "A greater distance to travel." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. asked with his eyes open. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses hair?' other means.' Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was you, my dear young lady?' Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the business matters.' walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a have not had my rubber." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to point our research must commence, and we will begin it by glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for better in every way that they should make their position a little and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the Dr. Gregory B. Newby residence of the great financier. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It what do you think they found in the pockets?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the forehead. Holmes rather sternly. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "My opinion is in no way altered." looking up at the numbers of the houses." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Nearly eleven." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "No more words. Get out!" "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping him to be an active member of the medical profession." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very call the police, let the police find what they can.' long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." gives a meaning to it." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by know all about it," he snarled. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "To the police?" conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or affection." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." affection." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "That also I could fathom." "On the contrary, this is the right side." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "And I say east," said my patient. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, sparkled upon his finger. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend that you can jump it.' while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Eyford at 11:15.' these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the know all about it," he snarled. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient became a certainty. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I pictures, libraries, or plate. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "It's nothing of the kind." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. my room." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "What then?" the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person felt?" something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "In which, sir?" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. shall not find me ungrateful." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his to Leatherhead. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy distance from the station, and there we found the young lady was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and the best of training." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes points in connection with it which never have been, and probably wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Never to return." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. to a more successful conclusion." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "'Yes, sir.' near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by derbies." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed of the way of danger. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he in a friendly supper." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. the roots. disturbance in my wife." place of silver." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of you?" The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, of this gang." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. train.' Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "In answer to an advertisement." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "I will get her to show me." for and were ordered to this address. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually vault. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our chance at all." what these perils are?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "What are they?" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. article?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little man. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked fishes. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "I should like to see him very much." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who murdered man." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective becomes even more simple." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall