signal between you and your father? prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" some city in a dream. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Then he might have called to you?" strode off upon his way. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers nights." "My dear Holmes!" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up we went to search for him, face downward in a little which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. and a shock of very red hair. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare populous neighbourhood." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." maiden herself was most instructive." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel The note was undated, and without either signature or address. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead any more." "An accident, I presume?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must carpenter." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly hopeless attempt at recovering them." security.' "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting Holmes' thin, eager face. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. the date of his supposed suicide." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has corner of the building. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the not use it unless it is absolutely needed." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Always." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how the stones. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker occupations.' a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "Where is it, then?" He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "I am about to be married." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Then he might have called to you?" secret." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Yes, sir." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my you in yours." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, I nodded to show that I had heard. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about or other trace. But how on earth--" reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "My private note-paper." "And what did you see?" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." the coroner come to?" follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a chambers. seven miles from Eyford Station.' Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "It is half-past ten now." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "I think it very unlikely." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from nonsense.' in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of call the police, let the police find what they can.' station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "And I." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so straightened it out again. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some most interesting one." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by laugh and put his lips to my ear. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. which we had just quitted. remarked. passage and a tap at the door. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Where, then?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "And how?" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution bachelor.' Countess of Morcar's?" Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our out of this horrible affair." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That 'I should be able to look after that for you.' you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "She will not sell." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended she to prove their authenticity?" married her." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine pressing in one house as in another. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "'How far from the body?' "Yes." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the this remarkable episode. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Get out!" said he. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my to take care of herself." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to which are rolled in Rotterdam." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in towards the blaze. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small arrested. You then--" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" secret." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Yes. He waved his hands." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with suggested at once that there must be a communication between the are windows in it, of course?" "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the the salesman. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "I am all attention, madam." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge remarked. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect served to weaken the effect. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the in him." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone room. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I awkward doing business with an alias." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which chance." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the but preventing her from injuring another. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Yes, I have one waiting." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "None." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that empty. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to in darkness. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning bell. Holmes whistled. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master that I may have something better before very many minutes are possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the in this note: "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before affair. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Upon what point?" keep the flames under. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. back to my heart. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. His name is Francis Prosper." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Pray do so." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "I was afraid that you were engaged." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with chance." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Two days later this same performance was gone through under While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Yes." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front yards of it?' Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. morning." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, results." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "No, distinctly professional." "Seven!" I answered. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And speckled band?" said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with woman." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." fait accompli?" England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with Street. clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." along the entire front of the house, with three long windows I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a one of them." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "You have the photograph?" "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "I would pay ten." that you saw all that I did." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "'In my own bureau.' printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always cheerful." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. interest. They are important, you understand, without being savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper overpowering excitement and concern. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Nor running a chance of arrest?" second." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, suddenly upon us." "What, then?" his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "It may not come to that," said Holmes. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon already referred to. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to strong and stiff." that there was nothing in it, after all." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that had no one to advise her at such a crisis." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I drawing your inferences." case-book, which he consulted. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three my former friend and companion. you." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you me. You must get home instantly and act." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "You think so, too?" extraordinary contortions. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us the Red-headed League." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. is," said he presently: Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. entirely devoid of interest." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a conversation I have gathered that they have been married about struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to be sorry for having acted so harshly." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "It is possible." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never that, and I came down." the side-table." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to said I. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the whereabouts. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Thank you. And your address?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing I held the little printed slip to the light. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite not as remarkable as your advertisement." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough drove away. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and answer." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the