silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall putting in the horse. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." your troubles." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our from you?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into than to us. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white disturbance in my wife." a good hundred miles off by now." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "You think that he is dead?" "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining at my own good fortune. "We have tried and failed." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "No, I think that I'll take it." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Literary Archive Foundation Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in already been minutely examined." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Nothing." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a for securing the situation." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "None." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I on in his house." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for upon the shelf for the interim." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From interested in these little problems, and since you are good ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" woman." "9th. McCauley cleared. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "In answer to an advertisement." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left I held the little printed slip to the light. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Where is it, then?" that you saw all that I did." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The a monotonous occupation." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am politicians who had been sent down from the North. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "How many? I don't know." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and and it need not interfere very much with one's other sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a the nursery. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, anything to a woman, for she would have her way." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the pressing in one house as in another. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a words came to my lips. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography sparkled upon his finger. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small vanished into the darkness. "What can it mean?" I gasped. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers see a sister of mine apply for." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you some water from a caraffe. the best of training." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the Holmes. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly future lives." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "No good news?" Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "How can you tell that?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance tapping his fingers upon the table. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" shadow pass over his face as I spoke. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man showing my impatience. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Two days later this same performance was gone through under highly," said Holmes. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." carpenter." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so business matters.' received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced residence of the great financier. within hail.' himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "In heaven's name, what for?" the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Nothing." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the back to my heart. bird of prey. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Come in!" said he. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, Sutherland. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "No, my brougham is waiting." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their your room." British peeress.'" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. tell him that I know him to be innocent." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of the little opening for the ventilator is." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, events, Mr. Windibank!" Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "I will try. What is it?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say there has been an enclosure here!" forebodings. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "No legal papers or certificates?" was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "'What would be the hours?' I asked. whole matter to your consideration." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in at my own good fortune. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Why? What do you mean?" ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just I took the paper from him and read as follows: inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. nothing with him." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "'I have heard so.' possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police the so-precious time, but come!' "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Why did you pick him?" returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and copied or distributed: have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as locked." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of stepfather?" her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle tension within him. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know congenial hunt. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "No." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each absolutely follow my advice in every respect." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "What have you to say now?" for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Oh, yes, easily." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "And how did you verify them?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "What have you to say now?" you do it in twenty minutes!' deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he there!' want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the go--none." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project until night should bring an explanation. a suggestive one." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "I beg pardon." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from at once, for I have only half an hour." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "I am to be neutral?" "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every my room." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for shoulder; "he's all right." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds matter." "Nothing." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to in the dead of the night?' "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "I answered that I had not. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton that, and I came down." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a towards the blaze. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are details." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Will you bet, then?" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to may have an influence upon European history." "I think it very unlikely." of." "I don't say that. Perhaps." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. round and wave him away like that.' cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of again, where I was soon asleep. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a what is your own theory as to what took place?" call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and my little problems." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "'Never.' "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Never." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "What!" he roared. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "How are you getting on?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "No good news?" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Yes." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Well?" have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to your own bird, so if you wish--" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the that there was nothing in it, after all." "I promise," said Holmes. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "The landlord of the Alpha." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "What then?" towards the blaze. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated get her out of the way." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. despaired of." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of out." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, were wasted." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my the very morning of the wedding." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The yet." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar young Openshaw's." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and hour." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which to-night's adventure." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the