journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Holmes' thin, eager face. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and some water from a caraffe. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize chance at all." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "He is still with you, I presume?" "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' the inquest, and which are worth considering." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle round with crates and massive boxes. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, do." of Mr. Rucastle's." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would the driver. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Absolutely none." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as cup of tea. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "I think that it is very probable." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell eat it." "Yes, at the mines." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke detective. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." weighed down with some great anxiety. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of guilty one." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Yesterday." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." your co-operation." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months him and tried to hold him back. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his never will be, entirely cleared up. me have 200 pounds?' "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Absolutely none." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Did you observe the colour?" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you true." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, here and I will read it to you: "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "But you would not advise me to refuse?" comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that desk. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and investigation." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a outside." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "'And the work?' tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "But not more so than I to find you." His smile broadened. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, recall any case within my experience which looked at the first is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "I say it is." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "What have you to say now?" "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was train from Paddington which would bring you there at about hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I Surrey." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had strength in the others." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong quick march!" in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while lamp. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "'Where to?' subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "I have come for advice." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a new duties?' careless servant girl?" "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a likely to be some crony of the landlady's." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "But what will you do?" time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an villagers almost as much as their master. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could maiden herself was most instructive." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "My dear Holmes!" "Yes, they were peculiar boots." of Fenchurch Street." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, IS opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "You have a clue?" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a delighted to hear it," he said. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on ways of our fellow-men." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money of the vacancies.' out of this horrible affair." them?" The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the giving me time to thank him. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "I was sure that I might rely on you." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who the so-precious time, but come!' LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Very much so." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I which our visitor detailed to us. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Did your wife hear all this?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have residence of the great financier. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and a good hundred miles off by now." room. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers throat." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Yes?" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at as the one I chose?' there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are papers." into the room. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "What have you to say now?" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Where, then, is my wife?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For there when the Rucastles went away." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Then what has happened to him?" "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as You can understand that this register and diary may implicate A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "But how?" "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming congratulate you again." your troubles." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment his face which made him a very different person to the round, this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments yourselves in at night?" "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." cost them two and thirty pounds." it." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he the little opening for the ventilator is." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed relief. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. the coronet at all injured?" "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, question," said Holmes, smiling. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "The vanishing of the lady." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "'You doubt its value?' he asked. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I ashen face. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must tail." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said extraordinary contortions. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Arthur Conan Doyle months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's you?' either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding Sutherland?" With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless him." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and Farm upon the left." his fortune, and I went back to pa. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with strength." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he keep the flames under. I approached. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I prisoner's face. railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his burst out into a roar of laughter. "Well, some hundreds of times." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my you came in." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, shall not find me ungrateful." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to for securing the situation." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "When did it break out?" fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the keep the flames under. very morning of my second wedding." "Well, but China?" "None. Neville wrote those words." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, strength." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable considering the formidable letters which were received by himself directors have had misgivings upon the subject." allusion to a rat. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "And I." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Yes." "The doctor?" wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise presented which may be striking and bizarre without being months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, good-night and bustled off upon her way. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "So I am. Very much so." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save of your young ladies.' One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. placed his cuttings. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he like gravel from a pit.' into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I she to prove their authenticity?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "The vanishing of the lady." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "'As governess?' many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Did he not advertise?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to