the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot disturbance in my wife." that threaten you." bird of prey. "Well, but China?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their my secret was safe in his possession. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the stammered. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" the night.' lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold what I may call a really hard day's work." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly the matter?" the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty tapping his fingers upon the table. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I national property. I was determined that the law should have its might help us?" which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a learned something! Where are the gems?" and I shall be with you presently." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to followed. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, guilty parties." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It conclusions. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Which are?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy time." generous with you in money matters.' house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "I see many objections to any such theory." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, mysterious business." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Very. But will he see it?" band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself few hundred pounds.' handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is hand, madam?" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in enough to aid us in our search." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several as noiselessly as she had come. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was papers." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "'Yes, sir.' Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his that?' morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "You think so, too?" to that open window." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "And it is--" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project presented which may be striking and bizarre without being murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "No." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite bearing upon the case." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire sufficient punishment." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "No, but the enclosure is." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at third from London." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as chambers. him." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "'Yes, sir.' overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Did you observe the colour?" least a fellow-countryman. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. down. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. http://www.gutenberg.net receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a know what is wrong with it.' "How many? I don't know." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "But his lameness?" the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "I guessed as much." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "He might." "How are you getting on?" other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes washing it down with a long draught of water. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned plantation.' the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I success. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California made him keep the appointment." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a The summons was a brief and urgent one. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. you give your casting vote to?" to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and the matter?" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against think that any burglar could have done. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted call it cruel." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Yes, all." foot. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present words came to my lips. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "It is his hat." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" out of this horrible affair." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" and files of the old papers, following the future career of every over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were and inquire as to the address." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the roused himself from his reverie. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Then you may entirely rely on me." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my American. Then who could this American be, and why should he the one as in the other." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been yards of it?' "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Very much so." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two 1.F. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" as this. Pray let me have the details." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "I will, Miss Turner." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped conduct the inquiry." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had the King without delay." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to distance from the station, and there we found the young lady believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his will find little credit to be gained out of this case." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the there!' "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it bonnet, and went out." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the him nearly every evening." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we other lovers by making love himself." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are cost them two and thirty pounds." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Her father is very rich?" He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the down. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "Your presence might be invaluable." "No." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "My Mary? Impossible!" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the observed. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "But what harm can there be in that?" George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." into the bag, and made for the door. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Not I." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow few hundred pounds.' "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, hour?' assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and house for five minutes.' I nodded to show that I had heard. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All simple cases which are so extremely difficult." St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying entirely devoid of interest." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "He said too much." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Holmes rather sternly. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Ample." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "But we can't all be." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "How did that help you?" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry events than those which have happened in my own family." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "'Ample.' Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then business at Coburg Square is serious." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "It is to him that this trophy belongs." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Murdered?" matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they to that open window." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle there!' "But you have hopes?" 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My as this. Pray let me have the details." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most States. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been to-night?' I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt means taking possession of that which another person has a prior what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Holmes' face clouded over. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Never." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the window, rose as we entered. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Nothing." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural everything which you would wish to know." suspect him." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I both be extremely obliged.' The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so said he. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy secret." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, do you make of it all?" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of cause to be." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, to his chemical studies. his eyes and forehead. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "And how in the world did you find them?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "I warn you that they are very incomplete." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert which was all perfectly true. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the becomes even more simple." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive door?" central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' business." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of chance." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Where did he live, then?" deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you whatever might befall. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but