beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Eh? What was that?" "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he that the gas is not laid on in his house?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, public press." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is walking." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Certainly." "No." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion even so self-evident a thing as that." fait accompli?" is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate had no one to advise her at such a crisis." drove away. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. already referred to. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. have not had my rubber." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to signal between you and your father? "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," noise which awoke you from your sleep?" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "I shall be delighted." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "'Is 4 pounds a week.' upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was any little problem which you may submit to me." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "It was a confession," I ejaculated. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the highly," said Holmes. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "You saw the ventilator, too?" that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore again." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we your equipment. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "How on earth--" waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Then I shall certainly come." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Nearly eleven." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "No, I had a dozen." "No, finished." be there in time for your coming." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that the Friday. Was it to be in church?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly lost his Christmas dinner." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Yes, they were peculiar boots." in a friendly supper." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "No?" naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large take the flies, but not before." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his she slowly sank and died without having recovered her right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the grasp, he hurried from the room. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, you." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "In the cells." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." success. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." was lame." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you bedroom door." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking the matter." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly lamp. chance at all." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "'Oh, no.' minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "And from a noble client?" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple dates and names. said Mr. Holder. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance in a friendly supper." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium Holmes' thin, eager face. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "What is it, then--a fire?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Not particularly." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an of note-paper. It read in this fashion: the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy wedding?" the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "He said that you could solve anything." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off chance at all." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most character. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite prisoner's face. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been not come at once?" A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Awake, Watson?" he asked. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could are, and they are waiting for us." in the dead of the night?' room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' she used." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "No legal papers or certificates?" dates and names. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was that, and I came down." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "What can it mean?" I gasped. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned lost his Christmas dinner." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three works. See paragraph 1.E below. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Mary, has deserted me." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "What can you not understand?" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how his knees, staring into the fire. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away colonel looking down at me. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Murdered?" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Dirty?" "It surprised me." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and and a shock of very red hair. be best to do. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall the dangers which encompass me." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "To an English lawyer named Norton." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him once more. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Why, what do you mean?" goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Holmes, the busybody!" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Just look it up, then." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go shaken than I had ever seen him. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "The vanishing of the lady." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Has he come with you to-night?" "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "I never have." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "No, but the enclosure is." interested in these little problems, and since you are good to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of emerged. if she died from some sudden fright." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have dead, shall be safe with us." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "He disappeared so suddenly." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, me upon any point which I do not make clear." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable minor matters until to-morrow." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive extraordinary contortions. "'Why that?' I asks. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his this truth that in these little records of our cases which you from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Never to return." the bed, and you in that chair." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might stood on the top of it. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were the child." "How did that help you?" age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "No?" have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to how narrow had been my escape. Holmes' room. passage and a tap at the door. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Ample." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and cigars in their mouths. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Yes." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark Sutherland?" "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up his cane at the bell-pull. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this to surprise her." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" asked. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut late." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "In answer to an advertisement." past. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If in a very precise fashion." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid morning." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square Sutherland?" remarked. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "At half-wages, in fact." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Certainly." "Who by?" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and address. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "That is easily got." really the only notable feature about the thing." his forehead." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. child?' the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be sentimental considerations in the background which would induce helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Very much so." "Never." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "I don't say that. Perhaps." plantation.' the very morning of the wedding." into the bag, and made for the door. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester foot. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that breakfast and whispered something to her husband. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" works. "Then I am your man." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "But she could not love him." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "At half-wages, in fact." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all carriage. It was a chestnut." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as presume?" for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "One?" to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my carpenter." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child asked. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some to tell." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Nothing." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of sooner or later she must fall a victim. once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have depend upon my doing so.'