Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, weary and pale-looking. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know then?" the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical see a sister of mine apply for." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother always that they were such commands as a lady might with to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Was she in good spirits?" license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, thirty. "And now?" I asked. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! golden eyeglasses. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism was lame." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as indeed which he could not unravel. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his taking in every detail of the apartment. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Then the page we have seen--" those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "I assure you that I am in your hands." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' Leave Paddington by the 11:15." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and point in the dark hollow of his hand. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "'Quite sure, dad.' "'There is a drive, then?' looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "'And what salary do you ask?' "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Not in a good cause." "Yes?" looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "About a month then." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is examine." enough to aid us in our search." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence rat could hardly pass through." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to tension within him. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "No, my brougham is waiting." sake, don't!" and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first thin, with a long, sharp nose?" appeal." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay again on its way. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" future lives." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but I shall continue with my miserable story. "A call for help, you thought?" the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "One horse?" interjected Holmes. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "So I have heard." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of sofa. This way, please!" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom ago." "Well, it is a possible supposition." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which away into the river." "Really! You surprise me." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally following enigmatical notices: the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. hardly wander." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just crackling voice. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. shaken than I had ever seen him. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, time." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such where she found matters as described by the last witness. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally crowd. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "What are they?" and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with I approached. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my this truth that in these little records of our cases which you passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who footfalls from the street. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the felt?" "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "'Stolen!' he cried. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried Countess of Morcar's?" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper in his power. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Yes, the wine-cellar." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air the best of training." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I bell. Holmes whistled. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman one else, I think." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all your sleep?' stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "A client, then?" whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the when your master had gone out." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Was she in good spirits?" more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "I am all attention, madam." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, stood on the top of it. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many His name is Francis Prosper." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "And I." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of intimate personal affairs in this public manner." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my instituted." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a again before evening." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "What do you mean?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where system of imprisonment?" paper in the air. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular the room while you explain this matter?" of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "I would pay ten." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the said I. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "And why?" and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, the King without delay." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Imitated." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, your bag." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the Again Holmes raved in the air. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "No, but the enclosure is." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing certainly not very gracious." "Thank you. Pray proceed." goes." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. despaired of." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Yes, that is the Crown." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is himself to hunt down. I am not easy in my mind about them." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it instincts rose up against that laugh. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at strong and stiff." upon the shelf for the interim." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "What! You do not mean bodies?" "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Miss Holder?" arrested. You then--" "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "You have it, sir, just as it happened." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "I say that I have solved it." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Then I do not see the point." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "'In my own bureau.' was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "That you are never beaten." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an said I. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, fish-monger and a tide-waiter." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "Yes, it was twisted." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, friend's singular character. lectures into a series of tales." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' said I. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and will he say when he returns?" ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently absolutely follow my advice in every respect." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more James Windibank. Voilà tout!" galvanised. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "One?" and the whole place is in a blaze." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my exactly what you advise." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully families. Now for the facts. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders wedding?" as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "ARAT," I read. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "'I am sure if I had known--' black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated maid will bring up your coffee." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. begun to whiten, even as mine has." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of lectures into a series of tales." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the child?' wall." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found intrusion of other matters." up this clue while it is still hot." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came http://gutenberg.net/license). bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, closing the door. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of his eyes and forehead. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" the King without delay." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary upon the sideboard." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit