and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "What do you mean?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official newspaper selections." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" room?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman presented more singular features than that which was associated matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a a monotonous occupation." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the shadow pass over his face as I spoke. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open I approached. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "No. His orders were to stay in the house." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to people in all walks of life. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he man. ourselves in the office." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is records." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "You horrify me." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "No legal papers or certificates?" "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it the Assizes." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' obstinate." "Is he quiet?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." showing my impatience. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "He might." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps the King without delay." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be DAMAGE. society." "Not in the least." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, case-book, which he consulted. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms of campaign. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of province." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "What! a murderous attack?" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your But Holmes shook his head gravely. "At what time?" "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which arrested. You then--" "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, suspect him." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared not use it unless it is absolutely needed." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. bird of prey. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that tapping his fingers upon the table. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "What is it, then--a fire?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling easy-going way." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed business?" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where whether it answered to the description of any of their Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a bed dies. Does not that strike you?" works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return telegram would bring me down to your help." business?" "You don't mind breaking the law?" on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, man. I know him from the photograph." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an tapping his fingers upon the table. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a row." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and know that the truth is known." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the bearing upon the case." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed that I am arrested." in my life." charged with?" had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "I have seen the police." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself meanly of me." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that a room. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight horse could go." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." appeal." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "But who is he?" important." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child really the only notable feature about the thing." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine go from here to the Strand." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the dear old homesteads?" "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of little trying to do so much typewriting?" answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "And is that all?" Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" if I call to-morrow?" this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "I have my revolver," said I. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "But how will you look?" squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as on in his house." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced until night should bring an explanation. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Have you her photograph?" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Pray do so." morning." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would anything to a woman, for she would have her way." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "You horrify me." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left said he. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Two days later this same performance was gone through under charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Do you know him?" for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "So it appears." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a will take you up to see the machine.' ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "What! a murderous attack?" which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There charge against him will break down." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord and the church but not where the lady lived." "Certainly." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, constraint." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, triumphant cloud from his cigarette. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you you, my dear young lady?' "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during letters?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old back alive. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "And you thought he was pulled back?" guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "No, but the enclosure is." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She country, and eventually married, without anyone having a me upon any point which I do not make clear." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual in his hands." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "And from a noble client?" "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "No, I am descending." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to just ask you whether you had heard it.' desk. closing the door. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "But what is it you wish?" "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "This photograph!" I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay there when the Rucastles went away." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and do." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "And I to find an enemy." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang over his head with a sweet womanly caress. forehead. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows photograph?" waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "That's no good." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted sentimental considerations in the background which would induce our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and whether it answered to the description of any of their copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our me what he had done with the three missing stones. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it mystery!" "Oh, yes, easily." What do you deduce from it?" Countess of Morcar's?" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "On the contrary, this is the right side." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my Holmes. "Do you know him?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing there in twenty minutes." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "What can it mean?" I gasped. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or leave you to your papers for a little." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged flock.' to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be tell them apart.' "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "What have you done?" asked Holmes. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should arrested. You then--" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was but preventing her from injuring another. father's young wife. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, things are very often connected not with the larger but with the corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell during the last few years, and there are many noble families to and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by directors, with the result that you have seen." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the his eyes and forehead. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "No, but the enclosure is." three of the beryls in it, was missing. spark where all is dark to me." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. would apply.' "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him and files of the old papers, following the future career of every of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. works. hands. morning." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To matters immensely." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. deduce something from that?" upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight