importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' Holmes rather sternly. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and closing the door. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not to me. Edgeware Road. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. over with notes and figures. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself whereabouts. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "So I am. Very much so." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our said I. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There sake, don't!" - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, you give your casting vote to?" Street. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Very murderous indeed." have not had my rubber." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined until night should bring an explanation. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. locked. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are be.' are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport recover the gem." four million human beings all jostling each other within the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. this man was intellectual?" a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "I have a cab outside." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "That is also quite modern," said the lady. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the time." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable examine." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "'In my own bureau.' We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Precisely." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "What, then, did Peterson do?" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found the stones. straighten it?" despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired carriage. It was a chestnut." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than should be taken.' after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Where to?" permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly some place of shelter and let the county police know what has bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Then he might have called to you?" Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this photograph?" you?' of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid beg that you will break it off." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his been deceived." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as dear old homesteads?" to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway from the brougham. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was vault. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the one which it was hard to resist. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "What I expected to see." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "And how in the world did you find them?" therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Her father is very rich?" signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Not in a good cause." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "But his left-handedness." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager crowd. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Then he might have called to you?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "And you thought he was pulled back?" observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his his forehead." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "There are none." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his what is your own theory as to what took place?" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another in his hands." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which would apply.' "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be the date of his supposed suicide." Pope's Court. said he. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. extraordinary contortions. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon is four-and-twenty." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to the running down." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "And why?" Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly Chief Executive and Director and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left copied or distributed: present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Yes." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Holmes' room. Sholtos." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "I see many objections to any such theory." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that advice." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a noise which awoke you from your sleep?" was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I place of silver." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me is a common subject for conversation. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and heavily into it. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Upon what point?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Is he quiet?" noble correspondent could be. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "Pray do so." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as your billet.' B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, purpose equally well?" "I have a cab outside." "Nothing." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a fashion which was peculiar to him. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a chill to my heart. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed place, I think that there is good ground to think that the himself to tell his story. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, You want to know what became of those geese?" impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily written. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "That is possible." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The Henry Baker is a member." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In success. "What have you to say now?" Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "He is dead," cried several voices. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money voice. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other me." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason cost them two and thirty pounds." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Bought." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "At half-wages, in fact." excitement. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came he. to take care of herself." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a key of the affair now." approach us with offers to donate. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "One of the highest in England." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "I would give my fortune to have them back." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight other means.' "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you this man was intellectual?" "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "I will get her to show me." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "This photograph!" over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." copied or distributed: "That is possible." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near some terrible trap for her." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "When did she vanish, then?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do narrative." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. flock.' room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Witness: Nothing definite. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Who by?" great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father other lovers by making love himself." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal papers." hand, madam?" Lee, in the county of Kent." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "What! a murderous attack?" her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out face and glided from the room. October 9, 1890. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One do.' "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Lestrade of Scotland Yard." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Which are?" seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the suspect him." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." forecastle of an emigrant ship. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you door?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened for securing the situation." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "That is possible." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to in him." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of 1.F. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport any little problem which you may submit to me." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "How can you tell that?" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." once more. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with me." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "Perhaps I have." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "But it has twice been burgled." "And your mother is alive?" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the stammered. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "That is it on the dressing-table." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Well?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do father's place of business?" ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, secret." status with the IRS. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of past. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had