"Very well, sir. And this stone?" never came back." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "No, finished." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "I never have." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no spare." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying coat-tails." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." and all of them with the keenest interest. "Oh, fresh and glossy." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or events, Mr. Windibank!" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her quick march!" "Precisely." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged noise which awoke you from your sleep?" living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me eat it." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. minor matters until to-morrow." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said asked. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "Well, some hundreds of times." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Ample." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of considering the formidable letters which were received by himself justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the soul! here is her carriage at the door." nice household for a young lady." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but whereabouts. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step III. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "No." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Very truly yours, you want, then?' present strange and interesting features that it is no easy of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as washing it down with a long draught of water. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "How do you know, then?" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Then how many are there?" "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of throat." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its Edgeware Road. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." about. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk spark where all is dark to me." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "That is unusual in a young girl." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and official police." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "He is dead," cried several voices. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have again, where I was soon asleep. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the words came to my lips. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "And help." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and here." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to open." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly tightly behind him. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "That was it, sir." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest it." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his populous neighbourhood." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "It missed him, then?" yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," companion quietly. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is round and wave him away like that.' long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' lamp in his hand. "And why in hopes?" "My own seal." the so-precious time, but come!' or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as Stoke Moran." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the was a lad." "Here?" dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Did you observe the colour?" of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I nothing of it?" the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "And why?" It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Ample." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" His name is Francis Prosper." "You don't mind breaking the law?" conduct the inquiry." galvanised. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done jewels which you have stolen?' preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. thin legs towards the fire. "But what harm can there be in that?" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Leadenhall Street--and--" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those bell. Holmes whistled. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over deduce something from that?" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No fait accompli?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the foresight and the moral retrogression?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has to tell." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my quickly through a disagreeable task. "And Miss Sutherland?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no characteristics, but those are the more obvious." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, matter." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. certainly not very gracious." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all later, upon the night of May 2nd." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Oh, fresh and glossy." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been down. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "But how?" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. not within a twentieth part of the market price." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. he bowed and left the room without another word. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Then, as to money?" and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her room. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "Two days later this same performance was gone through under upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. which our visitor detailed to us. I shall communicate with you." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his bird I ate is country bred." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to formed some opinion?" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "So I am. Very much so." "Who was the criminal, then?" "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "And you thought he was pulled back?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has allusion to a rat. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. province." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will official police." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the it right.' knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of shall not find me ungrateful." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "'Ten to two.' THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "But you can know nothing of this?" unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of later, upon the night of May 2nd." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good You want to know what became of those geese?" mystery!" "And sit in the dark?" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Certainly." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are noise which awoke you from your sleep?" and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough seven miles from Eyford Station.' upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is begun to whiten, even as mine has." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "'Oh, no.' time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and affair. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic hands. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De him. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! case-book, which he consulted. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all me. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Did he not advertise?" suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With arrested. You then--" silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's what these perils are?" you give your casting vote to?" near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "The Coroner: What do you mean? Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I Again Holmes raved in the air. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that to arrive at through this?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "No, thank goodness, she did not." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." jewels which you have stolen?' lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that cup of tea. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "'Ten to two.' unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no some mystery and the punishment of some crime." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast me. You must get home instantly and act." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as the matter?" colonel looking down at me. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what This is what he says: that I am arrested." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." case-book, which he consulted. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "What will you do, then?" a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his locked. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. congratulate you again." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! bore every mark of being an average commonplace British back into the street. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which followed. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have