"'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood way in." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "'And the work?' whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such seem to you to be relevant or not." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, suspect him." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "I will, Miss Turner." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle case before our client came into the room." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and to-night?" I asked. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "No. His orders were to stay in the house." tapping his fingers upon the table. round with crates and massive boxes. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Your French gold?" afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was developed." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and lips." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with the little opening for the ventilator is." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. Watson," he said cordially. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Perfectly so." "I am to be neutral?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" the King without delay." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a but preventing her from injuring another. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a letters?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying and have this put in the evening papers." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Won't it ring?" "And why?" play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "I was certainly surprised to find you there." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "Never." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "None." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, villagers almost as much as their master. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "But you can know nothing of this?" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to said he. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. you." the best of training." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Her father is very rich?" was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal letters?" often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque bearing upon the case." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "This concluded the examination of the witness." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a look upon these things in a different way." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and train from Paddington which would bring you there at about accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire throat." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut existence." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he house for five minutes.' cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest there when the Rucastles went away." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we the south-west, I see." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "None. Neville wrote those words." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise washing it down with a long draught of water. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer if she died from some sudden fright." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray events, Mr. Windibank!" "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources very old mansion. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Won't it ring?" only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." you." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the matter over." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. constraint." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided McCarthy." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "Yes, at the mines." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "Yes, they were peculiar boots." Miss Holder?" already been minutely examined." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see in the hope of finding them." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." golden eyeglasses. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at matter." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, address. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some better grown goose." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "That is not always so easy." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "That also I could fathom." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Yes." and effective." For additional contact information: to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with because she had spent so short a time in this country that she reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "And your mother is alive?" "I beg pardon." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was coat-tails." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It indeed which he could not unravel. "It is his hat." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Yes, at the mines." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not God! What an exposure! What can I do?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Who was the criminal, then?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "If so, much may have happened between." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "There are none." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "You think that he is dead?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All DISSOLVED. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "'About the same.' were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far My friend smiled. the so-precious time, but come!' afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She pressing in one house as in another. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open been shamefully used." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying will not take me long to tell. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a wanted for ourselves." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' chemical work which was so dear to him. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "You have the photograph?" breakfast." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "But she will refuse." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "I never have." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "'Then let me do so?' "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the colonel looking down at me. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "'Yes, I promise.' either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but forebodings. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "And help." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, useful material for showing traces. The double line a little coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" to that open window." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of said I. would then never go into court at all." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, his wife has ceased to love him." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "'What do you call purely nominal?' our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at character. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend James Windibank. Voilà tout!" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary records." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "I would pay ten." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. certainly not very gracious." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Well, it is a possible supposition." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." who was a member of your goose club." "Was your sister dressed?" "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can some terrible trap for her." "Well, but China?" problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with light and attacked it." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend asked. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from Holmes rather sternly. that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they if only as a check to my own memory." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "It is a murder, then?" "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Again Holmes raved in the air. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "To ruin me." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Can I be of assistance?" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. them present such singular features as the strange train of "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy Arthur Conan Doyle slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "You saw the ventilator, too?" took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City to arrive at through this?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "9th. McCauley cleared. "Then what has happened to him?" concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Farm upon the left." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Won't it ring?" to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "'In my own bureau.' often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "It is his hat." ready to-morrow?' before the coroner and the police-court." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "No bad?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a