round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Which are?" should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident wedding?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have nights." signal between you and your father? which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of writer." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you three of the beryls in it, was missing. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt for and were ordered to this address. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "But how?" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "'Oh, no.' Eyford." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his you." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "And your father? Did you tell him?" but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss asked. sofa. This way, please!" "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" our word." other means.' "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "We were both in the photograph." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "My opinion is in no way altered." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "What, then?" "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, bearing upon the case." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after as he folded up the epistle. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of yet." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "I should be immensely obliged to you." gone. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a fasten all the windows?" "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "I assure you that I am in your hands." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be learned something! Where are the gems?" winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go there when the Rucastles went away." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "What, then, did Peterson do?" green of the new foliage. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his forebodings. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "I am all attention, madam." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Yes. He waved his hands." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be occupations.' toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in what is your own theory as to what took place?" puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "No legal papers or certificates?" had died away into the silence from which it rose. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I said he at last. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "No, distinctly professional." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Did you become engaged then?" fact, we may call it conclusive." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after shoulder; "he's all right." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At flock.' while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to burst into a hearty fit of laughter. sneer upon his pale face. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows to-night's adventure." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes leaning back in his chair. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. mystery!" enter into my head. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "They are typewritten," I remarked. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, long narrative. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the about. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Has he come with you to-night?" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The in my life." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the promised to bring home. clanging. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To over here." them?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "BALLARAT." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "But I am all in the dark." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned train.' "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at to some other building. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the your own bird, so if you wish--" to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The opened a pocket-book and took out a note. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in their singular warning or token before them when starting upon at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "When did it break out?" sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "I will try. What is it?" Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of than was visible to me." "And how in the world did you find them?" Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "My dear Holmes!" the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I over part of the map. "What do you read?" eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that carpenter." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we delirious. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. society." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the father's young wife. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be fashion which was peculiar to him. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "There are none." again." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could the inner apartment." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, gone before you can get him to hospital." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls answer." recover the gem." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "It's nothing of the kind." mystery may be cleared along those lines." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "'There is a drive, then?' he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." suspect him." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special goes." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no standing smiling on the door-step. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It results." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, developed." cost them two and thirty pounds." "I know where it is." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the that you wished to speak to me?' world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box goes." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "I am still in the dark." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some in the dead of the night?' husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he sofa. This way, please!" name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Never to return." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "I should be immensely obliged to you." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Why, what do you mean?" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "So I have heard." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged we went to search for him, face downward in a little it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There Surrey." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure something of him before." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard someone who had been in Australia." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Have you it here?" whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, business in the City. She little knew what. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" coroner's jury." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor reach." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Certainly." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at indeed which he could not unravel. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of examination of the premises, but without finding anything which has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." to a light-house. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking he. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in rose-bushes. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "'I am sure if I had known--' "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came out of this horrible affair." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Lee, in the county of Kent." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "An accident, I presume?" but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. companion. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up of the one which your family is now devouring." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your eavesdroppers?' been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "What will you do, then?" "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of from the brougham. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of down from London to inquire more deeply into it." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee for the market.' that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Eh? What was that?" retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Imitated." overpowering excitement and concern. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. morning." "If I can be of use." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, about here speaks of his kindness to him." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Yes, all."