showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey respectable self." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "There is the writing." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. anything to do with the matter?" "How did that help you?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for along the entire front of the house, with three long windows overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Entirely." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which at home. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt country, and eventually married, without anyone having a play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a which should have the effect of calling the attention of the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At tear off another piece?' unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "How did that help you?" his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Here?" which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left existence." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Who was the criminal, then?" and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the fait accompli?" "What office?" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His placed his cuttings. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, place of silver." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began appeared upon the scene." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "It came here." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the leave you to your papers for a little." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view and the whole place is in a blaze." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off strong reason behind." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very exactly what you advise." strode off upon his way. so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Two days later this same performance was gone through under They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective case before our client came into the room." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." Holmes rather sternly. for securing the situation." "What will you do, then?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the which was all perfectly true. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "'Yes, sir.' statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing heavily into it. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so whether it answered to the description of any of their with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "And how have you succeeded?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the once more to my work. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took disappearance of these gems?" prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Tired-looking or fresh?" Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." in. him!" here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in tail." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were present." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester will he say when he returns?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "'Ample.' moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied assist you in forming an opinion." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards from you?" right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a What do you deduce from it?" He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the it with his own hands." "If I can be of use." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance less than 26s. 4d. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons guilty one." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in definite end. "One of the highest in England." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you to miss it." "One?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential in him." security.' her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with bird I ate is country bred." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of his cane at the bell-pull. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Certainly, madam." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face that?' no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "None. Neville wrote those words." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "What then?" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "My photograph." "Seven!" I answered. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the any more." to change my dress. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate she has been waylaid. There has been no result." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "But you can know nothing of this?" "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Why, what do you mean?" was a perfect sample of the class. "I cannot think." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "You did not overhear what they said?" test if we have an answer to our advertisement." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical you." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" James Windibank. Voilà tout!" they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you one which it was hard to resist. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the presume?" "Here?" screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian colonel looking down at me. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our be best to do. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" Literary Archive Foundation his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "'I shall certainly be there.' so.' the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the back alive. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Then, as to money?" the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you crackling voice. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that the stones. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill do.' "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: thought that she would have been so carried away." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you into the room. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Yes, sir." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "And how did you verify them?" I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "What then?" soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my of." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings sound at heart." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "The best possible." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "I am about to be married." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently shoulder. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with again, where I was soon asleep. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the back into the street. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "I should like to see him very much." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut appeared upon the scene." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a light and attacked it." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge even so self-evident a thing as that." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up front of me. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose McCarthy's innocence. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "Not in a good cause." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for quickly through a disagreeable task. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small be sorry for having acted so harshly." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "His face fell immediately. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address to have that photograph." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Thank you. Pray proceed." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face comes from the middle window." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" astonishment. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. becomes even more simple." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Were they all fastened this morning?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "'I have already given you my word.' woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "No good news?" Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as him, that man would not have given me such complete information Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, me where it went to?" The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great that he will be back before evening." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman child?' and capable of preserving a secret.' but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side leave you to your papers for a little." relief. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. enter Dr. Roylott's room." union?" giving me time to thank him. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots cause to be." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards awkward doing business with an alias." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be the stones. and no precautions can guard against." be best to do. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. in a friendly supper." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very a suggestive one." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Yes, it would be as well." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some too. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "And I." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left past. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet maid will bring up your coffee." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Then I do not see the point." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was prove to be little relation between the different incidents of on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the in the port of London." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would you do it in twenty minutes!' Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "Not in a good cause."