"If so, much may have happened between." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "You have it, sir, just as it happened." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of nonsense.' see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "He disappeared so suddenly." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her chance at all." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There yet." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "I am to be neutral?" "I cannot say that I have." handed it to him. "At the wedding breakfast." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be questioning and rather startled gaze. congratulate you again." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "Yes." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as himself to tell his story. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just could not have written that. It is the German who is so not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. politicians who had been sent down from the North. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "'Then let me do so?' "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the details should find their way into the papers. Inspector I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the and wait." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, been." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "It surprised me." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, the station." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an detective. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods the window, rose as we entered. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry suspect him." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Very murderous indeed." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a fatally injured? "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears foot. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just in his power. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic what do you think they found in the pockets?" "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to and shall probably return to London by the evening train." at once, for I have only half an hour." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" Clair, of Lee." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I him!" "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of brandy and water within his reach. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was a suggestive one." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" fish-monger and a tide-waiter." where she found matters as described by the last witness. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, was a loud and authoritative tap. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional Countess of Morcar's?" work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be were unconscious?" events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Will you bet, then?" "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our there when the Rucastles went away." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual chamber." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, relief. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is seen the man in the road." to Leatherhead. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and absorbing." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Do you receive much company?" he asked. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to indeed happy." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off since then to throw any light upon what became of him." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "I have my revolver," said I. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." these bleak autumnal evenings." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "On the contrary, this is the right side." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about colonel looking down at me. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the the running down." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "And how did he make his money?" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Where, then?" fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." hour." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke bears upon the case?" straightened it out again. where she found matters as described by the last witness. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting back to my heart. "Your French gold?" "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had from the brougham. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "He is still with you, I presume?" iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Entirely." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Gutenberg-tm License. "But who is he?" it." shall use the carriage to-night." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Not I." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who girl said." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "I am all attention, madam." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug remarked. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "My photograph." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the to-morrow." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face becomes even more simple." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called begin with, and I had not got mine yet." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that weighed down with some great anxiety. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew head. So long, then!" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "Yes." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I I approached. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place cigars in the box." husband's writing, madam." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know you, my dear young lady?' among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew forbidden door. been with you?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's know all about it," he snarled. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "You know me, then?" brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Well." take the flies, but not before." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client bell. Holmes whistled. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "He might." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may not come at once?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "In answer to an advertisement." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "It is solved." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to who was a member of your goose club." shall not find me ungrateful." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Then how many are there?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, I have it here in my museum." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "None." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred strength." "I shall most certainly do so." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, enter into my head. he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You been deceived." "And what did you learn from him?" death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "And I to find an enemy." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just anything to a woman, for she would have her way." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Nothing." are, I think, all that we need." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "'No, I know no one in these parts.' doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "'Certainly,' I answered. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Never." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger The summons was a brief and urgent one. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." fluttered off among the others. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few details should find their way into the papers. Inspector could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, directors, with the result that you have seen." "No." "This concluded the examination of the witness." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Not particularly." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such out." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises Stoke Moran." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some newspaper selections." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of as this. Pray let me have the details." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been just called myself is not exactly my own." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "No." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Did your wife hear all this?" little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery hereditary King of Bohemia." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which o'clock is it?" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "I see many objections to any such theory." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Pray do so." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "That's no good." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have posted to-day." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended voice, changing her seat as requested. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman