social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "'Yes, it was gone.' "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Edgeware Road. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was hands. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, would apply.' her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as quick march!" which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "On your arm?" in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making everything which you would wish to know." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "She walked into the breakfast-room." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out footfalls from the street. actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "Yes." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "No legal papers or certificates?" themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and presume?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but himself to hunt down. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and and have this put in the evening papers." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Your French gold?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent cigars in the box." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord carriage. It was a chestnut." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another before the coroner and the police-court." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "'Quite sure, dad.' things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "'It is locked up,' I answered. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, them?" stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So never to learn it at all." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a written, and locked the door of the office after me. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it important." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he important." examine." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said any more." "Dark enough and sinister enough." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause that there was nothing in it, after all." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "One?" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "He disappeared so suddenly." colonel looking down at me. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be o'clock is it?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my and glanced through. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** used to be." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and the address that was given us in the advertisement. important." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, this poor creature." "I was sure that I might rely on you." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Very murderous indeed." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to simple cases which are so extremely difficult." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we from you?" 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, good for you to do.' "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "But I am all in the dark." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." over part of the map. "What do you read?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Lee, in the county of Kent." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." that you saw all that I did." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Absolutely none." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand fear." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom crime." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot opened the door, and slipped through. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger be sorry for having acted so harshly." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "But his lameness?" Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of business came to an end." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or strong and stiff." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" visitors." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old cost them two and thirty pounds." I held the little printed slip to the light. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his question. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." conclusions. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Nearly eleven." attention." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is McCarthy." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 acted in my house last night?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might Dr. Gregory B. Newby been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." eat it." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is all that?" as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that might have a private word with us. from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened in your London, you will know that the office of the company is aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. throat." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my purpose of examination. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with my secret was safe in his possession. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this morning." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" sparkled upon his finger. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the case before our client came into the room." answered with a sidelong glance. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you once more to my work. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and do you make of it all?" it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in have accepted such a situation. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Have you it here?" "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to completely overtopped every other consideration that we both went to the Alpha were town bred." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "I would pay ten." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary chance at all." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "One horse?" interjected Holmes. quite distinctive." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too highly," said Holmes. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just man. I know him from the photograph." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those man. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I man. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "Texas, I think." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "The best possible." to Leatherhead. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: you." "And how did he make his money?" therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Yes." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have that you can jump it.' with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "So I am. Very much so." straightened it out again. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "That you are never beaten." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Get out!" said he. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, excitement. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was for the market.' "Ah, but I was recommended to you." fear." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is when your master had gone out." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly which it had come upon my father." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to tightly behind him. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, 11:15.' Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each take the flies, but not before." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate to talk it over. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of behind me. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can were new raised from a basin. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" know what is wrong with it.' of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence sooner or later she must fall a victim. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "How long did she speak to this Alice?" fashion which was peculiar to him. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. very morning of my second wedding." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered cup of tea. "And why?" when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria case before our client came into the room." then?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "'Yes, it was gone.' absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "What then?" winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and chance." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "You were travelling in the States?" "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who