"At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "Then what has happened to him?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good my room." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," to you." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "What do you mean?" have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. existence." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "No, I am descending." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "At the wedding breakfast." was not a bird to be seen there. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. what these perils are?" Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing because she had spent so short a time in this country that she your Highness to the police-station?" "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "And the murderer?" ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our an introduction to him?" and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or better grown goose." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "He slept on the premises." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "His face fell immediately. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for notes," he said. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found the coronet at all injured?" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young that threaten you." key turn in the lock." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "But we can't all be." was lame." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. it." Have you good authority for what you say?" of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the the inquest, and which are worth considering." could not have written that. It is the German who is so until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. should be taken.' light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty in darkness. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and to have been novel and of interest." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with it with his own hands." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that wife's character?" anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. when you have done it." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "So it appears." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change during that time.' to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "It's nothing of the kind." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I himself. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you eat it." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' and it need not interfere very much with one's other "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have tassel actually lying upon the pillow. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does one of the states of the Union." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Well, it is a possible supposition." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' politicians who had been sent down from the North. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but some water from a caraffe. "Not particularly." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Witness: I must still refuse. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so electronic works therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right was lame." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as charged with?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be mystery!" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, considering the formidable letters which were received by himself promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the whole matter to your consideration." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put unprofitable." fishes. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "If I can be of use." "Texas, I think." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell think, you have already met." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most call you and give you the chance." look upon these things in a different way." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but information in his hands the value of which he did not himself Sutherland. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over kindly on the shoulder. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "You did not overhear what they said?" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just the nursery. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "'Certainly not. But why?' "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "'Certainly not. But why?' "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "I guessed as much." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of do.' It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square entirely lost his self-respect." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "Will you go?" Have you good authority for what you say?" beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in maiden herself was most instructive." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was careless servant girl?" "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Very well, sir. And this stone?" it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Certainly." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Henry Baker is a member." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a outside. "A greater distance to travel." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one I approached. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, the Assizes." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "How did you deduce the select?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the matter over." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "No, finished." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "She showed me, as I told you she would." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "But who is he?" business?" and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. giving me time to thank him. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that I held the little printed slip to the light. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of derbies." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the quick march!" in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an it? Did I buy the geese off you?" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of that you wished to speak to me?' direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that upon the shelf for the interim." "The doctor?" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize gbnewby@pglaf.org people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Eh? What was that?" "How many? I don't know." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods the King without delay." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "But his left-handedness." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be go from here to the Strand." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is DISSOLVED. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "The vanishing of the lady." there in twenty minutes." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and fatally injured? case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "You don't mind breaking the law?" "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any I think that I could be of assistance to you." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "About a month then." "Witness: I must still refuse. chamber." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my know that the truth is known." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "'Where to?' for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "'Oh, no.' you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "In the cells." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon bell. Holmes whistled. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, congratulate you again." seem to you to be relevant or not." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew said he. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden the stable lane now." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion yards of it?' gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with made him keep the appointment." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them him. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let new duties?' friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I as he folded up the epistle. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "What will you do, then?" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital enter into my head. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Were they all fastened this morning?" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you away to you." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls vague figure huddled up in the darkness. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. http://www.gutenberg.net old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the developed." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort help us in this matter." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, rat could hardly pass through." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not have been better. It is all right." it." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand as this. Pray let me have the details." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "When did it break out?" sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn."