"'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "She told me to ask you." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." to have been novel and of interest." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while someone who had been in Australia." "Whose house is it?" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight seem to you to be relevant or not." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an you?" reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would dramatic, in fact." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Thank you. And your address?" about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, brain must have something in it." "That you are never beaten." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Really! You surprise me." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "And I say east," said my patient. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual least a most suspicious remark." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "It looks newer than the other things?" centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "'Why that?' I asks. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which lamp in his hand. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Well, but China?" most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." forehead. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. did not hear it also.' for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your page at http://pglaf.org 'please.'" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and not within a twentieth part of the market price." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that before, for it was considerably after midnight. "It certainly sounds feasible." again, where I was soon asleep. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "I came to find a friend." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to the south-west, I see." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "And from a noble client?" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely results." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than only touch the interest." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some not come at once?" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something the date of his supposed suicide." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Well, some hundreds of times." helping a boy to put up the shutters. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of you in your example." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the this man was intellectual?" who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Here?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Never." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Absolutely none." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled bearing upon the case." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little 1.E.9. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "What!" he roared. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of the nursery. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than miles off. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: kindly on the shoulder. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is the child." power." "And you can do nothing until then?" "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per you." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet photograph a cabinet?" "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "10th. John Swain cleared. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, the coronet in his hand?" general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "From his hat?" "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon might help us?" perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite been able to understand it, in a very few words. some terrible trap for her." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. and wait." "One of his hands." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," that I am arrested." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." once more to my work. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Very murderous indeed." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "And how in the world did you find them?" implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the hands. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, have been better. It is all right." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in Lee, in the county of Kent." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." instincts rose up against that laugh. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The could not account in any way for the presence of the missing he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important light and attacked it." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Married! When?" "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you and laid it on the table. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "He is dead," cried several voices. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' that I can to serve you." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very all that?" England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Did your wife hear all this?" "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time absorbing." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four very peculiar words of the dying woman?" It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." My friend smiled. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "The vanishing of the lady." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper lumber-room." business in the City. She little knew what. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so signal between you and your father? "Pray do so." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a Sutherland?" "Yes, that is the Crown." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the bearing upon the case." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such past. made his money." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. second window is the one that I jumped from." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would ways of our fellow-men." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. to take care of herself." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Quite so." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect beyond words. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "You are hungry," I remarked. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough wedding?" wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not astonishment. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "It is true that I have been generally successful." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" eat it." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Was there a secret marriage?" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive one of the states of the Union." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Perfectly so." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the woman." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of down. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have said he. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss not personally threatened." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Where is it, then?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for you in yours." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a electronic works building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "And the murderer?" the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "One?" outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." in a friendly supper." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "About a month then." said he. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. the inquest, and which are worth considering." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your least a fellow-countryman. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The time." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing the so-precious time, but come!' the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "Thank you. Pray proceed." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Tired-looking or fresh?" do.' offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "So it appears." man. I know him from the photograph." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no emerged. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed John Swain, of St. Augustine. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking opportunities to fix the problem. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "Yes, they were peculiar boots." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you article?" fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one