pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "'Certainly not.' in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "10th. John Swain cleared. "But how did you gain them?" away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "What have you to say now?" "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "And your father? Did you tell him?" difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Well, but China?" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give his eyes and forehead. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "You will not go there first?" the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed gone before you can get him to hospital." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "The rest you will leave in our hands." crime." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will his grey eyes. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's unprecedented a position." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America I held the little printed slip to the light. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other electronic works such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was down from London to inquire more deeply into it." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little against a man in the prime of life?" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" derbies." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "The gentleman I describe." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "But his left-handedness." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "And leave your case unfinished?" prisoner's face. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to train.' prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry writers could invent nothing more crude." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "I am in hopes that she does." brain must have something in it." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a locked. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "It is very clear." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. like that before?" my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who present." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "To an end?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Pray tell us what has happened to you." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and were new raised from a basin. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of article?" no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Yes, there are nearly always some there." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a where we are going." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize and inquire as to the address." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My what I may call a really hard day's work." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, Does that suggest anything?" she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then said he. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built maid will bring up your coffee." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Stolen." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Where, indeed?" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the you understand?" reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle entirely devoid of interest." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Yes, certainly." "Come in!" said he. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to begun to whiten, even as mine has." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather entirely lost his self-respect." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both any more." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback past. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "I will get her to show me." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "This photograph!" closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should sufficient punishment." which was all perfectly true. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my she to prove their authenticity?" came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, the morning and make my own way in the world.' "But what is it you wish?" "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Yes. He waved his hands." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my have one." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I characteristics, but those are the more obvious." power." society." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of of his shoulders. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's our word." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our habit of advancing money.' ways of our fellow-men." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the pound a week." Sholtos." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a and effective." brain must have something in it." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "There is the writing." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Perfectly so." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Very. But will he see it?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a obstinate." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, this man was intellectual?" at a side door. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with someone who had been in Australia." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the room. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "We have tried and failed." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. true." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in The police have openly confessed that they can at present make upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. throat." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at is," said he presently: flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "He said too much." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at 11:15.' my secret was safe in his possession. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of whether it answered to the description of any of their laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "'What do you call purely nominal?' themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "It may not come to that," said Holmes. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Pray do so." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter already been minutely examined." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. existence." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly business came to an end." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it on in his house." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking not personally threatened." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "The knees of his trousers." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the redistribution. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Did your wife hear all this?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "So it appears." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might trying to your nerves." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." despaired of." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son light and attacked it." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in o'clock is it?" Leave Paddington by the 11:15." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met which I could not give. He asked for Alice. dear old homesteads?" abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she developed." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "I will do it." of receipt of the work. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare shoulder; "he's all right." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in flock.' "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some out of this horrible affair." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I appeal." could not have written that. It is the German who is so Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the other lovers by making love himself." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "My stepfather's business papers." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and tapping his fingers upon the table. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman status with the IRS. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The carried out of court." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "It is his hat." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Yes, that is the Crown." paper in the air. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Of Friday, June 19th." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more society." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you what do you think they found in the pockets?" with frightened eyes at his accuser. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock them present such singular features as the strange train of