"What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for the one as in the other." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty kindly on the shoulder. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "I am sure." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry of the vacancies.' It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, papers on the sundial.'" know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of her also." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "That is unusual in a young girl." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California believe that I should never have any practice at all. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building room. "Breckinridge is his name." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, hour." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, place of silver." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his asked with his eyes open. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if address. to-night's adventure." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, society." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Holmes, the busybody!" of the way of danger. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time business." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Edgeware Road. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "It goes to the housekeeper's room." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand trying to your nerves." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "How many? I don't know." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and and a shock of very red hair. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "The decline of his fortunes, then?" him and tried to hold him back. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "No." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I thin legs towards the fire. "If I can be of use." secret." "Nearly eleven." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised gbnewby@pglaf.org humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "That is unusual in a young girl." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "And leave your case unfinished?" "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Certainly." Mary, has deserted me." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "But what harm can there be in that?" brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to nice household for a young lady." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, own family. examine." made his money." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "No, thank goodness, she did not." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. presume?" and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge hand, madam?" Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to make me his representative both with the servants and with the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, call you and give you the chance." "I am all attention, madam." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had I shall continue with my miserable story. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when companion. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "And from a noble client?" should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Miss Holder?" know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a himself to hunt down. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "I warn you that they are very incomplete." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what place of silver." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the me have 200 pounds?' "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." this remarkable episode. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I true." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. to have been novel and of interest." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would which should have the effect of calling the attention of the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Yes?" room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there Arthur Conan Doyle you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the which our visitor detailed to us. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time to take care of herself." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "So I heard. You have him here?" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" where we are going." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact learned something! Where are the gems?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Very well, sir. And this stone?" throat." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather of Mr. Rucastle's." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. good-night and bustled off upon her way. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon fire. You quite follow me?" "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "One of his hands." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning shadow pass over his face as I spoke. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "There is the writing." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. guilty parties." "I have hopes." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone following enigmatical notices: "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Was there a secret marriage?" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "'Where to?' chance at all." lectures into a series of tales." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was the very morning of the wedding." and all of them with the keenest interest. to-night?" I asked. "Of what day?" overpowering excitement and concern. people don't know." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "I have my revolver," said I. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, nonsense.' leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "No." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. throat." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "I cannot imagine." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an when your master had gone out." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Have you it here?" "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of where she found matters as described by the last witness. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Well?" servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "I have my revolver," said I. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Oh, yes, easily." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not as noiselessly as she had come. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. the morning and make my own way in the world.' "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "'What are you doing there?' he asked. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left constraint." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the woven round him. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "And why in hopes?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap train from Paddington which would bring you there at about we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you hardly wander." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "And from a noble client?" "Yes. He waved his hands." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "How did you deduce the select?" "By no means." Holmes." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the presented more singular features than that which was associated you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country certainly do as you advise." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Yes." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked were new raised from a basin. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Not in a good cause." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the written. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "And did you observe any change in her then?" desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when mysterious end." me." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Of Friday, June 19th." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is