cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is to-night?" I asked. spare." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, business." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If was a perfect sample of the class. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Were they all fastened this morning?" he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those tied." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found held up the lantern and gazed about him. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and the inquest, and which are worth considering." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had the inner apartment." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and particular state visit http://pglaf.org "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "No." which are rolled in Rotterdam." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given prepare for the new role I have to play." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. second." walking." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the geese which you supplied to the Alpha." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? my room." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever 'I should be able to look after that for you.' a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair to miss it." tied." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. more solid." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature tapping his fingers upon the table. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Nothing." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned golden eyeglasses. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, morning." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons see me here to avoid scandal." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "That's no good." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "My dear Holmes!" dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was trying to your nerves." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Why, it's a dummy," said he. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "And the murderer?" surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." that he has suffered." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Not yet." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the strong and stiff." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards hurried away. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The and it need not interfere very much with one's other Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the residence of the great financier. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the envelope. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and From what you have told me I think that it is possible that money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Yes." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "Perfectly so." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your tightly behind him. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in a very grave face. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "What, then, did Peterson do?" Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a only touch the interest." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Entirely." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the what these perils are?" was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall washing it down with a long draught of water. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "And I." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "'A dozen yards or so.' again, where I was soon asleep. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." arrested. You then--" danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded imbecility!" he cried. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "No. What a strange idea!" which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen during that time.' downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an tension within him. "I will do it." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "And your mother is alive?" contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. the roots. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "But how?" child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the with the outside air!" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to perplexity from it to my illustrious client. jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one back alive. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing 'please.'" 11:15.' his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "What of the rat, then?" "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of over his head with a sweet womanly caress. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw nonsense.' their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this characteristics, but those are the more obvious." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, there in twenty minutes." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "What do you mean?" I think that I could be of assistance to you." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the I nodded again. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." bird I ate is country bred." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than there is a decided draught." redistribution. "I don't believe it." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been make me his representative both with the servants and with the The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the I approached. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this Stoke Moran." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of again before evening." "I say it is." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I union?" unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as national property. I was determined that the law should have its right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot there has been an enclosure here!" planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Then the page we have seen--" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "In heaven's name, what for?" "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned You want to know what became of those geese?" reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had direction." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "I shall most certainly do so." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Yes, all." at once, for I have only half an hour." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." me. You must get home instantly and act." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" strength of mind to control. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. the date of his supposed suicide." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his a good hundred miles off by now." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to the bed, and you in that chair." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, Chief Executive and Director smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a away to you." "If so, much may have happened between." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "You have it, sir, just as it happened." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, threw himself down with his face to the pillow. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "What will you do, then?" "Could he throw no light?" set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, young Openshaw's." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have o'clock is it?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Yes. He waved his hands." in his hands." door?" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a better grown goose." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "He disappeared so suddenly." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that and that he would see to anything that turned up. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about them present such singular features as the strange train of Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger your equipment. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Yesterday." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It chance at all." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying ran thus: "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here about. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered breakfast?" did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "I cannot tell." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in to Leatherhead. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain third from London." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The shall not find me ungrateful." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his sufficient punishment." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "At the wedding breakfast." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "At what time?" presume?" case-book, which he consulted. "But how did you gain them?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do him!" was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" the so-precious time, but come!' have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, voice, changing her seat as requested. remarked. "None." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. nights." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a there is a decided draught." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must companion. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting ordinary clothes on?" opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them relation between them, and what the object of his repeated compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "He disappeared so suddenly." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "10th. John Swain cleared. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "She showed me, as I told you she would." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and I shall continue with my miserable story. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Sutherland?" "We must have a cab." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed there!' having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of