a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Was there a secret marriage?" wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all events than those which have happened in my own family." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back forecastle of an emigrant ship. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Were they all fastened this morning?" for its centre. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom be. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper place, I think that there is good ground to think that the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, place of silver." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the The summons was a brief and urgent one. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, and put his glass in his pocket. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Nearly eleven." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a me have 200 pounds?' all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Look there!" said he. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "She will not sell." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, call the police, let the police find what they can.' woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." an introduction to him?" the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "You did not overhear what they said?" difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance ready to-morrow?' a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large yards of it?' opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's and effective." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "What are they?" "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "No." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "And it is--" Leadenhall Street--and--" credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The His smile broadened. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "What! Had he lost his wife?" least a most suspicious remark." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a The police have openly confessed that they can at present make suggested at once that there must be a communication between the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must overpowering excitement and concern. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." go from here to the Strand." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "'Yes, sir.' "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have you for a few hours?" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. chance at all." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. me where it went to?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "But how?" one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Not particularly." bird I ate is country bred." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the may have an influence upon European history." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, London for the present?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." I. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock Heh?' but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, of the vacancies.' blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "I have come for advice." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. long narrative. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." and inquire as to the address." "By all means." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout said I. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the since then to throw any light upon what became of him." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I not as remarkable as your advertisement." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all one which it was hard to resist. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring written. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and stepfather?" "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when his face which made him a very different person to the round, you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning evidence," I remarked. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has an introduction to him?" servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. tell him that I know him to be innocent." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "And leave your case unfinished?" however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer of a light. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed and capable of preserving a secret.' stepfather?" "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "'Most admirably.' was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate you understand?" journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in begin with, and I had not got mine yet." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "But you have hopes?" "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, to that open window." strength." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. face and glided from the room. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Yes?" that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in there in twenty minutes." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, upon a handsome competence. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had shoulder; "he's all right." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Serpentine Avenue. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a would then never go into court at all." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had over his head with a sweet womanly caress. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Pray let us have it, for all that." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "Why did you pick him?" course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "What is it, then--a fire?" civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Sholtos." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was other lovers by making love himself." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, second window is the one that I jumped from." have I gained?" "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both lumber-room." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "To ruin me." that there was nothing in it, after all." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' have had none more fantastic than this." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "Witness: It was. Countess of Morcar's?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, examine." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this kindly on the shoulder. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a instincts rose up against that laugh. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," vault. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. bell. Holmes whistled. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and down in his armchair and closing his eyes. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen would apply.' "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening to miss it." "I have a cab outside." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "But you can know nothing of this?" upon the sideboard." Count Von Kramm." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five here." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Never to return." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "You know me, then?" description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but in this note: 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a said he. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. of it with the greatest attention. was lame." fattened it expressly for you.' front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "Then, how do you know?" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "He is still with you, I presume?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the appointment with me for six o'clock?" "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Ten will be early enough." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a not personally threatened." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it populous neighbourhood." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two in his hands." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "I will do it." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, that he will be back before evening." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. the night.' "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." nonsense.' your bag." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." certainly not very gracious." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." situation." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the yourselves in at night?" few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "I beg pardon." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance with you alone." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her recover the gem." purpose of examination. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, business?" whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He the date of his supposed suicide." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Then you may be so with me." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some dates and names. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Why? What do you mean?" lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of and no precautions can guard against." "'Where to?' hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of you want, then?' peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" south, for the country is more deserted there."