"'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open such person." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but conduct the inquiry." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "I am in hopes that she does." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged three of the beryls in it, was missing. little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is into the bag, and made for the door. his face. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." would then never go into court at all." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the were new raised from a basin. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It everything which you would wish to know." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less have not had my rubber." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "She told me to ask you." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any tied." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "But what is it you wish?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that distinguish the words: afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "A confidential servant?" something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which this remarkable episode. questionable one." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and plantation.' heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold ago." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and there were one or two details which were new to me. But the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Nothing." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with interests were the same as his." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are the side-table." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would and the whole place is in a blaze." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone down from London to inquire more deeply into it." page at http://pglaf.org The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and suddenly upon us." towards the blaze. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "What! a murderous attack?" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a what do you think they found in the pockets?" "I beg pardon." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "I cannot tell." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Watson," he said cordially. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at the station." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope DAMAGE. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission even so self-evident a thing as that." weighed down with some great anxiety. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant married her." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was unprecedented a position." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a fact, we may call it conclusive." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such straighten it?" his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my six. Come in!" it means?" "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Very truly yours, "He disappeared so suddenly." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, writing, and yet I know it well." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than most interesting one." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was that I am arrested." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" asked. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "I will do it." "And your mother is alive?" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "'I shall certainly be there.' believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and manager. this unhappy family?" reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, on in his house." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid come either from the window or the door. My attention was indeed happy." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open yards of it?' in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour believe that I should never have any practice at all. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he felt the room to be a little close.' the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. the loss of it. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "You think so, too?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "'Yes.' gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Two days later this same performance was gone through under said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend leaning back in his chair. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, shadow pass over his face as I spoke. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Pray be precise as to details," said he. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "What do you mean?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not friend's singular character. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "You are hungry," I remarked. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my annoyance, but no jest. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his kindly on the shoulder. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his Cross for the Continent." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "When did it break out?" right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the must be when I saw the door open.' should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Who was the criminal, then?" "How long did she speak to this Alice?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right shoulder; "he's all right." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against remarked. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Foundation Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Did your wife hear all this?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." yourselves in at night?" nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Oh, yes, easily." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and locked." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his be there in time for your coming." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the The events in question occurred in the early days of my aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "By no means." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, mysterious business." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw done what I asked you, Jones?" came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal orange pips. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "But not more so than I to find you." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the suddenly upon us." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he upon an income of about 60 pounds." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "9th. McCauley cleared. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy chambers. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "His face fell immediately. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be light and attacked it." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "I will, Miss Turner." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a right! Sit down and let us talk it over." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may quite distinctive." "Well, some hundreds of times." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "No, distinctly professional." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the and have this put in the evening papers." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter must compliment you." persecution?" possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey acted in my house last night?" "Why did you pick him?" boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the to his chemical studies. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "That is easily got." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have are, I think, all that we need." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called has little to do with my story." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Then the page we have seen--" in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, awaited us upon the table. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "He slept on the premises." and all of them with the keenest interest. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off as the one I chose?' tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "It is possible." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was six. Come in!" black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness you." your own bird, so if you wish--" conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "'You cannot say what it was?' bachelor.' Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is McCarthy." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose 'I should be able to look after that for you.' my secret was safe in his possession. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not formed some opinion?" "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had shall use the carriage to-night." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight into the bag, and made for the door. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one