shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, discontent upon his features. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' you give your casting vote to?" by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the through." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "From his hat?" myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: legal crime." the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the redistribution. there." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She James Windibank. Voilà tout!" DISSOLVED. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "Which surely he restored to their owner?" before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "The Coroner: What do you mean? was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw Chief Executive and Director conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring laugh and put his lips to my ear. "And what then?" "Where is it, then?" "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," think, you have already met." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our III. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Whose house is it?" however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has Street. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a him and tried to hold him back. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "'Quite sure, dad.' "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an arms and began to sob in a high treble key. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" tell me that you intended to go into harness." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "'Most admirably.' stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon License. You must require such a user to return or "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the ran thus: over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "You horrify me." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, it were putty." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance occurred." "But to whom?" his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an seven miles from Eyford Station.' Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" young Openshaw's." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Yes." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle the little opening for the ventilator is." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "It is no ordinary one." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the warnings." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "Not social, then?" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said felt?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening night.' said he. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end opened the door, and slipped through. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found pound a week." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built such attractions and accomplishments?' Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole so far?" "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I shoulder. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "How can you tell that?" and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He when you have done it." legal crime." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it bearing upon the case." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good shall use the carriage to-night." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to completely overtopped every other consideration that we both Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Entirely." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. been shamefully used." do." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless drove away. take the flies, but not before." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to have I gained?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "What then?" This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, the very letters. But what is this written above them?' only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole had this final quarrel? some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "You know me, then?" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Munro.' red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; and I shall be with you presently." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Watson," he said cordially. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "And why in hopes?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of he bowed and left the room without another word. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "I see no marks." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." the coronet in his hands?" tear off another piece?' more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. DISSOLVED. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I your only hope of safety." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who look upon these things in a different way." again, where I was soon asleep. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is that threaten you." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the extraordinary contortions. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass village inn over there?" outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "The vanishing of the lady." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" that isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Why, it's a dummy," said he. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of said he, "my real name is James Ryder." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy gigantic client. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "But not more so than I to find you." what I may call a really hard day's work." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "But not more so than I to find you." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "The Cedars?" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the eat it." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "What, then?" "Yes." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance held up the lantern and gazed about him. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 in this way: maiden herself was most instructive." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you the ceiling. our word." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "How on earth--" a very grave face. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "But who is he?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is him to go away.' and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Stoke Moran?" said he. had this final quarrel? Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when the armchair which I pushed forward for him. not, dad?" she asked. stalked out of the room. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. and a shock of very red hair. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, ill-usage at the hands of fortune. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil been with you?" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I drawing your inferences." "Absolutely none." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "'Yes, sir.' mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Very much so." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I again." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little new duties?' "'It is locked up,' I answered. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at October 9, 1890. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible front of me. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who just called myself is not exactly my own." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that everything which you would wish to know." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "What!" he roared. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which go from here to the Strand." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate the coronet at all injured?" "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "I promise," said Holmes. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a girl said." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm appointment with me for six o'clock?" he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who from you?" me, and I could not think that his explanation of the fled together." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the was used.' rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "But you were on a friendly footing?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an matter over." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was ventilator." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" You want to know what became of those geese?" "Murdered?" of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "The rest you will leave in our hands." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the face and glided from the room. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "But not more so than I to find you." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the His name is Francis Prosper." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "No, finished." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you woven round him. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another gbnewby@pglaf.org eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "But she could not love him." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That