however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and for the market.' said Mr. Holder. into the room. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? bears upon the case?" was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' some water from a caraffe. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running that you can jump it.' that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as way in everything. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, despair." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat intimate personal affairs in this public manner." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of is worth.' "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my and inquire as to the address." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to experiences." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "I have seen the police." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but money should be paid at once.' A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Could he throw no light?" he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they she to prove their authenticity?" walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of was shining brightly. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "On your arm?" drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you but preventing her from injuring another. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of had died away into the silence from which it rose. "It is no ordinary one." creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its them, and came down just as you departed. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that and looked back. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill direction." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It been able to understand it, in a very few words. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country gone. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "No." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I bill, which interests me deeply." "It certainly sounds feasible." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia and your relations to her." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were of the one which your family is now devouring." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are which our visitor detailed to us. woman." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Then how many are there?" "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's which are rolled in Rotterdam." lost nothing by them." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, roused himself from his reverie. locked." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement business came to an end." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "Then you may entirely rely on me." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at the coronet at all injured?" returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Why serious?" "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his questionable one." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "The murder was done with it." "Stoke Moran?" said he. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "It is solved." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H figure." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "'Certainly,' I answered. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." vault. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my to where he stood hid behind the curtain. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door think that any burglar could have done. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Stolen." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "Ah!" she used." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Was the window open?" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "'What, the red-headed man?' of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "No." and looked back. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had prisoner's face. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Certainly, madam." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a awaited us upon the table. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up society." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he woven round him. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Never." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' a good hundred miles off by now." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "A call for help, you thought?" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, be there in time for your coming." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Precisely." quite distinctive." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was and I shall be with you presently." figure." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was invisible to me," I remarked. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the back alive. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Pray do so." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and fat-encircled eyes. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of little adventures." "The vanishing of the lady." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." just called myself is not exactly my own." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my you do it in twenty minutes!' "I think it very unlikely." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double chemical work which was so dear to him. companion. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." people in all walks of life. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a you found me to-night--and running through the front room she lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "The murder was done with it." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. to-night?" I asked. away into the river." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now prisoner's face. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "I was mad--insane." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Which surely he restored to their owner?" card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. in darkness. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second during the last few years, and there are many noble families to to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "Yes." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Mary, has deserted me." her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things closely." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Heh?' had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded electronic works "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the my special province." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly away into the river." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "Never." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee me, and I could not think that his explanation of the posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "I shall be delighted." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the singular points about the case. What did the police think of the whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "And the murderer?" say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "I am armed." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a problems help me to do so." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that companion quietly. "How did you trace it, then?" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still written, and locked the door of the office after me. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his that I am arrested." guilty parties." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the Assizes." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "I was certainly surprised to find you there." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers hour?' soul! here is her carriage at the door." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "It must be recovered." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to of the one which your family is now devouring." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "What! You do not mean bodies?" maid will bring up your coffee." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we words came to my lips. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been case-book, which he consulted. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "My own seal." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her and your relations to her." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "The doctor?" home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility instituted." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to His name is Francis Prosper." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock telegram would bring me down to your help." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that the running down." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "To an end?" hurried by. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "Do you receive much company?" he asked. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Only as much as we can deduce." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, was not a bird to be seen there. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Come in!" said Holmes. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of